Former Zambian Minister jailed with hard labour

Former Mines Minister Maxwell Mwale has been sentenced to twelve months imprisonment with hard labour for abuse of authority of office.

Mr Mwale was on Wednesday found guilty of abuse of authority of office by facilitating the issuance of mining licences to a Chinese firm, Zhongui International Mining Industry Group Limited.

Passing sentence in the matter this morning, Magistrate Lameck Mwale noted that the number of cases involving abuse of authority of office is on the increasing and that he would be failing in his duties if he did not impose a custodial sentence on the offender.

Magistrate Mwale said the sentence will run from the day the former Minister was convicted on 25th February 2015.

Mr Mwale was on Wednesday acquitted of the other count of being in possession of 5,000 bicycles worth over K1.5 million suspected to be proceeds of crime.

Magistrate Mwale has since directed that the bicycles be restituted to the convict.

 

QFM NEWS