Maravi

'Rich' civil servant's uncle cries foul

'Rich' civil servant's uncle cries foul
Written by Masuzyo Chakwe
Tuesday, June 02, 2009 11:59:58 PM

FORMER Ministry of Health human resource manager Henry Kapoko's uncle, Robert Kalimi, on Tuesday charged that his nephew has been prosecuted by the media. And Kalimi demanded that Kapoko be charged and prosecuted if he has committed an offence.

In a walk in interview yesterday, Kalimi, who is the spokesperson for Kapoko's family, said it had been exactly one month and 16 days since the search at Kapoko's house took place.

"Neither Henry nor a family member has said anything. My nephew has been prosecuted in the media. We have taken a low profile by not saying anything because we wanted the professional bodies to conduct their investigations in a professional manner," he said. "As a family we are demanding that let them charge Henry if there is a case, because he has never been charged. The first time they picked him, the offence was failure to account for property. He was detained without food and no charge, that was very barbaric but when he was arrested on Saturday, the offence changed to theft by public servant. If they have evidence why are they contradicting on these issues? Why are they not charging him?"

He said Kapoko's life was in danger right now as the public had the notion that he had stolen K10 billion from the government.

Kalimi said the family was scared that Kapoko could be eliminated by the security agents and warned that the government would be answerable if anything happened to him.

He said according to the investigative teams, Kapoko had stolen K10 billion and had painted that picture.

"They never explained that as a person, he was a well established business man. They went to Best Home Lodge, they had workshops, records are there. Did they want to eat food without being paid? Is that theft? We provided the services, is that theft? They have been going to Pamodzi and Intercontinental Hotel, is that money laundering? Let them go to Pamodzi as well," he said.

Kalimi further said Kapoko's wife was last Saturday picked up and taken to police headquarters.

"When did his wife turn into Henry? She was even breastfeeding when she was detained. I want to know which one did my nephew steal out of the K27 billion? Let them scale down so that they come to the focal point. They have detained him for more than 48 hours. Let them release him and take him to court so that he can tell the nation what transpired," he said. "I am not saying that Henry should be omitted from being prosecuted, if he committed a crime, let the law take its course but it should be done in a professional way."

He said the family was not supporting crime and the public should know the truth.

"Henry will never open his mouth if he is not taken to court and there is no relationship between Michael Sata and Henry and Henry has never been PF. Even the MMD had a braii and function at the lodge. We are in business. They used to have business there, let them not target anyone," he said.

Kalimi said the police also went to Baobab School where Kapoko's daughter learns to ask who paid the fees and found that Kapoko had been paying post dated cheques.

He said they also went to the two companies that were supplying him with building materials and found that he had credit of over K180 million at one and K240 million at another.

Kalimi said the lodge was not built last year but that it started as a house.

"So where is the theft?" asked Kalimi.

And on Tuesday, Kapoko was moved from Ridgeway police where he was detained and taken to police headquarters.

He was later moved from police headquarters to the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC).

And when contacted for a comment, police spokesperson Bonny Kapeso said a person could be detained without charge for more than 48 hours depending on the kind of investigation.

Kapeso said Kapoko would be charged as soon as the investigations were concluded.

Kapoko was last Saturday picked up and detained at Woodlands Police Station in connection with the ongoing investigations in the K27 billion scam at the Ministry of Health.

Kapoko's lawyer Nicolas Chanda confirmed that his client was picked up by the police on Saturday and spent a night at Woodlands Police Station but was later moved to police headquarters.

The law enforcement agencies are investigating Kapoko in connection with the alleged corruption, theft and fraud in the Ministry of Health.

The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) has also seized and restricted property in excess of K3 billion allegedly belonging to Kapoko who now works at the Ministry of Local Government and Housing in the human resource department.

Following the revelations, the Swedish and Dutch governments suspended aid to Zambia's health sector.

The donors have withheld their aid pending the report of the forensic audit of the Ministry of Health.

But last week, Auditor General Anna Chifungula revealed that preliminary investigations at the Ministry of Health indicated that K27 billion was stolen and there was a possibility that more money might have been stolen by civil servants.

And Secretary to the Cabinet Dr Joshua Kanganja said 32 workers from the Ministry of Health had been sent on forced leave.

Former Ministry of Health permanent secretary Dr Simon Miti who was last Saturday picked up by the police to help in the investigations has also been sent on forced leave to pave way for investigations.

Labels: HENRY KAPOKO, MINISTRY OF HEALTH

posted by MrK @ 11:03 PM