On 11th October 2024, Joanne Nsekesha Mumpasha, a former Accounts Assistant at the Department of Immigration, was convicted on 41 counts of Theft by Public Servant. The convict was charged with theft involving over K2 million public funds, alleged to have been stolen over an 18th month’ period from January 2020 to July 2021. Ms. Mumpasha was sentenced to 6 years’ simple imprisonment, a decisive outcome in this case of public funds misappropriation.
Case Background:
As an Accounts Assistant, Ms. Mumpasha was entrusted with the responsibility of receiving daily collections in cash and cheques from immigration services, which she was expected to deposit at Atlas Mara Bank. However, an audit report in 2020 raised serious concerns about under-banking and unaccounted revenue, leading to a thorough forensic audit.
The forensic audit revealed a clandestine scheme of siphoning public funds through deliberate under-banking practices. Over of K2 million was lost in the scheme, Ms. Mumpasha effectively betraying the trust placed in her as a public officer.
Defense Rebuttal:
When put on her defense, Ms. Mumpasha claimed that she was not given adequate time to account for the missing funds, citing her suspension at the time of the forensic audit. She further produced her own financial figures in an effort to show that she had, in fact, deposited all the money. However, her defense proved to be untenable, as evidence demonstrated that she had been given time to account for the missing funds but had failed to do so. Further, her own records failed to account for the missing funds.
Despite her arguments, the court found overwhelming evidence against her, including a partial admission of guilt when she offered to pay back the stolen money. Notably, Ms. Mumpasha paid K150, 000 towards the funds she had misappropriated, but this gesture did little to exonerate her. Her defense collapsed further when she failed to respond to the majority of the counts leveled against her.
The Conviction and Sentencing:
Out of the 64 counts with which Ms. Mumpasha was charged, she was convicted on 41 counts of Theft by Public Servant. The trial court presided over by Principal Resident Magistrate, Ireen Wishimanga sentenced her to 6 years of simple imprisonment, effective from 11th October 2024. This case underscores the NPA’s commitment to holding public servants accountable for mismanagement and theft of public resources.
The NPA views this conviction and sentence as a major milestone in the fight against embezzlement of public resources and serves as a warning to public servants who might be tempted to exploit their roles for personal benefit. The NPA remains resolute in ensuring that such acts of theft, fraud, and misappropriation of public resources are met with the appropriate legal action.
Conclusion:
The NPA applauds the Drug Enforcement Commission and the Office of the Auditor General’s for the thorough work done on this investigation. The NPA continues to work diligently in collaboration with investigative bodies to protect public funds and uphold the integrity of Zambia’s institutions. The conviction of Joanne Nsekesha Mumpasha is a testament to our zero-tolerance policy towards corruption, theft, and fraud in public service.
As Zambia marks 60 years of independence, this case is a reminder of the importance of accountability and ethical conduct in safeguarding our nation’s resources for future generations.