Maravi

Court issues arrest warrant against Mpombo

Court issues arrest warrant against Mpombo
By Namatama Mundia
Tue 26 Mar. 2013, 14:01 CAT

CHIEF resident magistrate Joshua Banda has issued an arrest warrant against former Zambian High Commissioner to Nigeria George Mpombo for non-appearance in court.

In this case, Mpombo, who is former defence minister in the Rupiah Banda administration, is charged with theft by public servant, forgery and uttering a false document involving K18 million.

When the matter came up yesterday for mention and fixing of defence dates, Divisional Prosecutions Officer (DPO), a Mr Mwanza, told the court that Mpombo was not before court and that it was not the first time he had not presented himself in court.

He said the state had made efforts to secure Mpombo's attendance.
Mwanza said he met the Director of Public Prosecutions, who was trying to liaise with Mpombo's counsel so that the accused finds his way to court.

Mwanza applied for an adjournment but magistrate Banda observed that Mpombo had not been appearing in court on several occasions.

Magistrate Banda then issued an arrest warrant against Mpombo to be returned on April 8.

Allegations are that Mpombo jointly and whilst working together with others unknown, being a public servant as defence minister, stole K18 million, which came into his possession by virtue of his employment.
On the second count, it is alleged that Mpombo forged a tax invoice number 6358 and receipts number 2846 and 4468 purporting to show that it was genuinely issued when in fact not.

In count three, Mpombo is charged with uttering a false document.
It is alleged that Mpombo knowing and fraudulently uttered false documents, namely two receipts, tax invoice and retirement of special imprest forms to Winniver Simwinji Mhlanga.

The offences are alleged to have been committed between June 2008 and September 2008 in Lusaka.

Labels: GEORGE MPOMBO, JOSHUA BANDA

posted by MrK @ 6:11 PM