TWO court employees have earned themselves a day in court after being detained for allegedly accepting bribes totaling K13,000 in two separate occurrences under the pretense that they would favor their bribers in the court proceedings.
In the first occurrence, Vernon Matente, an interpreter at the Kalomo Subordinate Court, was detained by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for engaging in corrupt behavior against a public official.
According to ACC spokesman Timothy Moono, between December and November of last year, Matente allegedly corruptly demanded K10,000 from Wesley Mboole and Samiya Mapanza, of which he received a downpayment of K6,500 as satisfaction as a reward to facilitate Owen Mboole’s prompt prosecution and acquittal by the lower court.
According to Mr. Moono, Section 19 (1) of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 3 of 2012, read with Section 41, has been violated by the 34-year-old interpreter, who has been charged with one count of corrupt activities by a public officer.
In the second case, the ACC also detained a court employee who asked a member of the public for payment in order to end a case that was pending before the court.
“Details are that on dates unknown but between December 1, 2021 and December 31, 2021 in Kalomo District, Kingsley Siatwindi being a public officer namely court clerk, did corruptly solicit K3,000 from Jane Phiri as gratification to facilitate the closure of the case of the People vs Jane Phiri, a matter or transaction concerning the Judiciary, public body,” Mr Moono said.
The pair have been released on bond and will appear in court soon.
