Police pick up 9 for K6.8bn MoH fraud

Police pick up 9 for K6.8bn MoH fraud
Written by Mwala Kalaluka
Sunday, July 05, 2009 4:26:33 PM

THE joint investigative team mandated to probe financial irregularities at the Ministry of Health has arrested and charged nine people in connection with alleged fraudulent payments to Algonquin Management Consultancy amounting to K6.8 billion.

Zambia Police and Anti Corruption Commission public relation officers, Bonny Kapeso and Timothy Moono confirmed the arrests during a press briefing held at Police headquarters yesterday.

Kapeso said those arrested include seven Ministry of Health officials and two other individuals linked to fraudulent payments to Algonquin Management between October 1, 2007 and December 31, 2008.

“The payments relate to various workshops purported to have been conducted for the Ministry of Health employees. The payments range from K200 million to K940 million and a total of K6, 840, 547, 636 was made to Algonquin Management and Consultancy for workshops which were never held or conducted,” Kapeso said. “The Ministry of Health employees have been charged with counts relating to theft by public servant contrary to section 272 and 277 of the Penal Code, while other individuals have been charged with counts of theft contrary to section 272 of the Penal Code.”

Kapeso said the first of the list of those arrested yesterday was Dr Chrispine Sichone, 44, director of health policy at the Ministry of Health.

He said Dr Sichone resides at plot 15231/1080, Kamwala South and that he had been charged with six counts of theft by public servant involving K4, 370, 825, 000.00.

Kapeso said the second was Roy Maswenyeho, 56, of number 56 Chabisa Road Woodlands, Lusaka, who is a principal accountant at the Ministry of Health.

Kapeso said Maswenyeho was charged with two counts of theft by public servant amounting to K1, 115, 618, 850.00.

He also said Vincent Luhana, aged 35, a senior accountant at the Ministry of Health and of plot number 551, Avondale in Lusaka was the third on the list.

Kapeso said Luhana was charged with six counts of theft by public servant amounting to K4, 088, 389, 186.00.

Kapeso further disclosed that Evaristo Musaba, aged 47, a former chief accountant at the Ministry of Health and now with Accountant General’s office, Ministry of Finance was the fourth person on the list.

Kapeso said Musaba, of house number 213 Monkey Close, Ibex Hill was arrested and charged with four counts of theft by public servant amounting to K2, 151, 527, 286.00.

He said the fifth person was former Ministry of Health human resource manager, Henry Kapoko, who has been arrested and charged with five counts of theft by public servant and five counts of theft amounting to K6, 840, 547, 636.00.

Kapeso named the sixth person on the list as 39-year-old assistant director of administration at the Ministry of Health and resident of plot number 2749 Shantumbu Road, Chilenje South, Nobert Peleti.

Kapeso said Peleti has been charged with five counts of theft by public servant amounting to K3, 098, 751, 486.00.

He said Kaoma Zukas Kaoma, 38, acting Ministry of Heath principal accountant and a resident of plot number 2344, Lilayi, Chipwepwenu area Lusaka was the seventh person.

He said Kaoma was charged with nine counts of theft by public servant amounting to K6, 342, 997, 636.00.

Kapeso also said that Algonquin director Naomi Gladys Musopelo Chawinga, 51, and a resident of house number 11/12 Shimaponda road, Matero East, was charged with ten counts of theft amounting to K6, 840, 547, 636.00.

Kapeso said 27-year-old Algonquin Management Consultancy shareholder and resident to plot number 65 Makishi Road, Northmead, Lusaka, Masuzyo Kuma Chawinga, has been arrested and charged with six counts of theft amounting to K4, 017, 197, 800.00.

He said the investigations team has also recovered five motor vehicles.

“All the suspects have been remanded in custody and expected to appear in court on Wednesday the 8th of July 2009 for plea,” said Kapeso.

Kapeso said it does not mean that if someone had been suspended from the Ministry of Health then they would be automatically arrested.

He also could not comment on the issue of the missing documents from the Ministry of Health, which could have helped in the probe.

Moono said the Auditor General’s office had said other areas were being sort to compliment for the missing documents.

The two were responding to a question from the Post on why the number of those arrested in the case was still far-off from the number of those who were suspended and barred from the Ministry of Health premises.

They said the investigations would determine who would be arrested.