Lusaka, 31.01.25 – In a stunning case of law enforcers turning lawbreakers, two police officers have been convicted and sentenced to 12 months imprisonment with hard labour for possessing counterfeit currency. A third officer, also implicated, was acquitted due to insufficient evidence.
Detective Chief Inspector Maybin Kasezya of Chelstone Police Station and Sergeant Joyford Mambwe, a police officer and Zambia Under-16 National Team coach stationed at Chinsali Police Station, were found guilty of being in possession of 24,478 forged K100 Zambian Kwacha notes. Their co-accused, Detective Inspector Maureen Nawa of Chelstone Police Station, walked free after the court ruled that there was no direct evidence tying her to the offence.
The case unfolded on January 9, 2018, when Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) officers, acting on intelligence, pursued the suspects from Ridgeway Post Office through Matero and Northmead before finally intercepting them in Chelstone. A day later, forensic analysis by the Bank of Zambia confirmed that the seized notes were counterfeit.
Appearing before the court, the convicted officers struggled to shake off the damning evidence presented by Public Prosecutor Aaron Tuntuluka from the Taxation and Financial Crimes Department of the NPA. The court found that they knowingly possessed the fake currency and, in doing so, grossly betrayed the public trust placed in them as law enforcement officers.
Handing down the verdict, the Honourable magistrate Irene Wishimanga condemned their actions, noting that the gravity of the offence was compounded by their sworn duty to uphold the law. The sentence serves as a stark reminder that no one is above the law, not even those entrusted with enforcing it.
The National Prosecution Authority (NPA) has reiterated its commitment to rooting out financial crimes and ensuring that justice prevails, regardless of rank or status. This conviction highlights the zero-tolerance stance against economic crimes that threaten Zambia’s financial system.
As two former officers begin their prison sentences, the case serves as a warning that justice spares no one.