Former Permanent Secretary Julius Joseph Shawa of the Ministry of Agriculture has been detained and accused of engaging in corrupt activities involving approximately USD$2.9 million by THE Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
Administrator of corporate communications Timothy Moono reported that Mr. Shawa, 64, of Plot L12500, Lilayi Road, Lusaka, had been detained and charged with one count of willful disregard for applicable law and procedure or procurement-related guidelines in violation of Section 34(2)(b) of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 3 of 2012.
Details of the offence are that between 1st January 2015 and 31st August 2018 in Lusaka, Mr. Shawa being a person whose function concerned administration of public revenue namely Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, jointly and whilst acting together with others, did willfully fail to follow applicable procedures in the manner he authorized the payment of US$ 2, 940, 000.00 from the Ministry of Agriculture account to Synite Quarries account and approved payment to the said Company without following laid down procedures as prescribed by law,” he said.
Mr Moono said the suspect has since been released on bond and will appear in Court soon.
