Court official jailed for fraud
A court official in Mzuzu has been sentenced to 24 months imprisonment for forging a cheque and 18 months for duping the court of K300 000 (US$637).
Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) spokesperson EgritaNdala said in a statement on Friday that the official, John Kumwenda, an accounts assistant responsible for maintaining fees account at the Mzuzu Chief Resident Magistrate’s Court (CRM), forged a cheque and obtained K300 000 from the fees account.
Said Ndala in outlining the particulars of the case: “In 2010, the Anti-Corruption Bureau received a complaint alleging that John Ndomondo Chigwere Kumwenda, an accounts assistant responsible for maintaining fees account at the Chief Resident Magistrate’s Court in Mzuzu, forged a cheque and obtained the sum of K300 000 from the fees account.
“The Anti-Corruption Bureau investigated the matter and confirmed the allegation. He was taken to Mzuzu Chief Resident Magistrate’s Court.”
Kumwenda was charged with one count of forgery and one count of uttering a false document contrary to Section 364 and 360 of the Penal Code respectively.
On January 27 this year, the court found Kumwenda guilty of both counts and convicted him.
He was later sentenced to 24 months and 18 months imprisonment with hard labour on the two counts respectively. The sentences will run concurrently.
