Primary teacher charged for examination papers

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Primary teacher charged for examination papers

 

Luwingu, March 4, ZANIS ——- A 32 year Kasunga Primary School Deputy Head teacher facing unlawful possession of grade seven examination question papers was on Thursday last week ordered to forfeit the bond sum to the state or serve three months simple imprisonment in default for jumping bail contrary to the laws of Zambia.

 

Britain Moonga Nkolola 32 of Kasunga teachers’ compound was convicted by Luwingu Magistrate Davy Simfukwe for jumping bail.

 

Nkolola told Magistrate Simfukwe that he was too drunk to remember the day he was supposed to appear before the court.

 

Nkolola on unknown date but between 25th and 29th October 2012 was caught with unlawful possession of 15 copies of 2012 grade seven examination question papers, namely 10 copies of integrated science and 5 copies of special paper 2 the property of the Examination Council of Zambia (ECZ).

 

Nkolola was arrested after the former District Education Board Secretary (DEBS) Alfred Muonga reported the matter to police that Nkolola had produced examination question papers earlier reported missing.

 

Nkolola is alleged to have stolen the examination papers on 25th October 2012 after the papers were delivered to the school by the Education Standards Officer and he was spotted trying to exchange the copies with local brew known as Katata.

 

And the Community Crime Prevention Unit (CCPU) alerted the DEBS who with the help of other people apprehended and surrendered him to the police.

 

“I find him to have breached the provision of section 116 (1) of the penal code of chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia. It is clear that he deliberately absconded the court proceedings purporting that he was too drunk to remember dates for the court,” he added.

 

Magistrate Simfukwe said three consecutive days were allocated as dates for trial but Nkolola decided to abscond forcing him to issue a bench warrant.

 

“As a court I could not have issued a bench warrant if you notified the court that you were not coming and I should not have allocated 8th March 2013 as a return date for bench warrant,” he stated.

 

In mitigation, the defense counsel Abraham Mwansa said his client had shown remorseful for his conduct and appealed to the magistrate to exercise maximum lenience as he was the first offender.

In passing ruling, Magistrate Simfukwe said the convict being the first offender is indeed entitled to lenience, but said it was the duty of the court to impose sentences to deter would be offenders.

 

The magistrate ordered to forfeit the bond sum to the state or serve three months simple imprisonment in default for jumping bail contrary to the provision of section 116 (1) of the penal code of chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia.

 

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