Former ZAF officer found with case to answer

Former ZAF officer found with case to answer
Written by Maluba Jere
Monday, June 08, 2009 6:50:18 PM

FORMER Zambia Air Force (ZAF) staff command officer Brigadier General Misheck Phiri and his co-accused Colonel Barb Kausu have been placed on their defence by the Lusaka magistrates court for abuse of authority of office. Lusaka magistrate Exonobit Zulu on Monday said the state had established a prima facie case against the accused and had put them on their defence.

The duo pleaded not guilty to all the 12 counts and the prosecution called witnesses
who gave evidence on oath.

In this matter, Brig Gen Phiri is alleged to have on May 8, 2001 in Lusaka being a public officer at ZAF headquarters abused his authority of office by awarding a contract to Lingi Enterprises, a company in which he had interest to supply uniforms worth K70 million to ZAF in breach of procurement procedures and did in consequence thereof obtain advantage or profit.

In the second count, Brig Gen Phiri is alleged to have awarded a contract to the said company on May 15, 2001 to supply uniforms worth K21 million to ZAF.

In count three, Brig Gen Phiri is alleged to have awarded a contract to the said company to supply uniforms worth K80 million.

He is in the fourth count alleged to have awarded a contract to Flona Enterprises to supply t-shirts worth K165 million to ZAF.

In the fifth count, Brig Gen Phiri is alleged to have awarded a contract to Flona Enterprises to supply t-shirts worth K80 million to ZAF, while in the sixth count he is alleged to have awarded another contract to the same company to supply gloves worth K50 million.

Col Kausu is on the seventh count alleged to have received K45 million as chief paymaster from Brig Gen Phiri as inducement or reward for having authorized or endorsed the payment to him on contracts he irregularly awarded to Lingi Enterprises to supply goods to ZAF.

Col Kausu is on the eighth count alleged to have received K40 million as inducement or reward.

On count nine, he is alleged to have received K60 million from Brig Gen Phiri as an inducement or reward for having authorized payment on contracts he irregularly awarded to the said companies.

Col Kausu is in the 10, 11 and 12th counts facing similar charges. Both accused persons informed the court that they would give evidence on oath and that they would call witnesses. The matter comes up on July 10 for defence.