• The two pleaded not guilty to the charge on 19th October 2021.
• We wish to issue a stern warning to all those who commit similar offences that we are equal to the task.
• Failure to adhere to the applicable laws relating to theft by public servant of medicinal and allied substances will result in offenders being prosecuted.
Zambia Medicines and Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA) has disclosed that a Pharmacy Technologist of Chirundu District Health Office in Southern Province has been convicted and sentenced to 2 years imprisonment with hard labour suspended for 12 months for Theft by Public Servant.
ZAMRA Public Relations Officer Ludovic Mwape added that the accomplice to the Pharmacy technologist has been convicted and sentenced to 12 months imprisonment with hard labour suspended for 6 months jail term for the offence of theft.
Mr. Mwape explained this was in a matter where ZAMRA in September 2021 while working in conjunction with the Zambia Police Service apprehended Ceaser Kagoli aged 35 years old of High Cost, Chirundu and Joseph Kasongo aged 29 years of Garden House, Lusaka and charged them with Theft by Public Servant and Theft of Government Medicines worth K35, 803 respectively, contrary to the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
He said when the matter was brought before Siavonga Magistrate Court, the two pleaded not guilty to the charge on 19th October 2021 and trial commenced which led to the duo being found guilty for the stated offence leading to their conviction on 31st May 2022.
“We wish to issue a stern warning to all those who commit similar offences that we are equal to the task of ensuring that no government medicines should be found with unauthorized persons,” Mr. Mwape warned.
He indicated that failure to adhere to the applicable laws relating to theft by public servant of medicinal and allied substances will result in offenders being prosecuted.
