Former C/Belt Police Chief Mary Tembo put on defence

Former Copperbelt Police Chief Mary Tembo has been found with a case to answer by the Ndola Magistrate Court in a matter in which she is facing two counts of abuse of authority of office.

Ndola Chief Resident Magistrate Paul Chisha passed the ruling today in Ndola stating that he was satisfied that a prima facie case had been established against Ms Tembo on both charges after the prosecution closed its case.

Magistrate Chisha has since placed Tembo on her defence and has adjourned the matter to 28th and 29th June 2015 when Tembo is expected to open her defence.

Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) Public Relations Manager Timothy Moono confirmed the development in a statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today.

Ms Tembo was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on 13th November 2013, for two counts of abuse of authority of office contrary to Section 21 (1)(b) of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 3 of 2012.

In the first count, it is alleged that Tembo, on dates unknown but between the 1stMay 2013 and 30th June 2013 abused the authority of her office as Commissioner of Police for the Copperbelt Province by obtaining a Toyota Corolla registration number AAX 5716 from Grizzly Mining Limited which she registered in her names thereby obtaining benefit for herself.

In the second count it is alleged that Tembo, on dates unknown but between the 1st November 2012 and the 31st December 2012 in Ndola,   abused her authority of office as Commissioner of Police for the Copperbelt Province by asking Grizzly Mining Limited, a private company, to fix her personal vehicle namely, Toyota Cressida registration number F100.

Ms Tembo is alleged to have delivered the car to Grizzly Mining Limited company using public resources along with a Zambia Police Service vehicle while purporting that both vehicles belonged to the Police Service when in fact not.

In a related development, Mr Moono said the Kitwe Subordinate Court has found Allan Simumba, a Kitwe resident with a case to answer and has placed him on his defence in a matter he was arrested by the ACC and charged with one count of impersonating an ACC Officer and one count of extortion.

Magistrate Chipuma has set 10th June 2015 as the date for Simumba to commence his defence.