A FOOD Reserve Agency (FRA) satellite depot supervisor has been sentenced to 18 months

A FOOD Reserve Agency (FRA) satellite depot supervisor has been sentenced to 18 months imprisonment with hard labour for theft of maize belonging to the agency.
Bernard Sibale, 26, who was charged with theft by servant, an offence that is contrary to Cap 146 Section 278 of the Laws of Zambia, was sentenced last Wednesday.
Facts of the matter are that between September 14 and 15, 2013, acting with unknown people, Sibale stole 402 50kgs bags of white maize, the property of FRA, his employer.
This is according to a press statement issued in Lusaka yesterday by FRA public relations manager Daniel M’soka.
After committing the crime, Sibale fled from his station, the central satellite depot in Kapiri Mposhi, prompting police and FRA to launch a man hunt.
A few days later, law enforcers traced him at a hideout in Kanyama in Lusaka where he was arrested on September 25, 2013.
Police recovered 204 of the bags from Sibale.
In Samfya, Ruth Phiri, the depot supervisor at Lubwe satellite depot has pleaded guilty to generating fake official receipts.
Mr M’soka said Phiri is awaiting judgment tomorrow.
“Phiri is accused of faking eight produce received certification notes (PRCN) purporting to have received white grade ‘A’ maize valued at K70,000.  During investigations, she was found with white copies of the PRCNs,” he said.
In Mazabuka, three FRA employees and a transporter are appearing in court for theft of maize.
FRA marketing assistant for Monze, satellite depots supervisors for Chivuna and Kaleye and the transporter from Chivuna are jointly charged with theft.
The FRA trio is charged with theft by servant and other fraud charges committed between January 2012 and June 2013.
Recently, the FRA introduced stringent measures including strict monitoring of stock movements, intensified security around depots, snap checks and an uncompromising stance against thefts.