Former Copperbelt Province Commanding Officer Yuyi Mwala along with five others arrested

Former Copperbelt Province Commanding Officer Yuyi Mwala along with five others arrested and formally charged in connection with the alleged theft of copper cathodes recovered in Mufulira District.

Zambia Police Service Public Relations Officer Godfrey Chilabi says the suspects are facing charges including theft by public servant, giving false information to a public officer and receiving property suspected to have been stolen.

Mr. Chilabi says the charges follow investigations into the alleged theft of 436 copper cathodes valued at approximately 448,596 United States dollars, which were recovered in the Mokambo area of Mufulira District between March 6 and March 9 this year.

He says has been charged with one count of theft by public servant.

Mr. Chilabi adds that police officers Patrick Muti and Boniface Nchimunya, Mufulira Clerk of Court Obrian Chipunza, and Magistrate Edward Banda have each been jointly charged with one count of theft by public servant and one count of giving false information to a public officer.

He says businessman Daniel Makina has been charged with receiving property suspected to have been stolen and giving false information to a public officer.

Mr. Chilabi says investigations indicate that the copper cathodes were being transported from the Democratic Republic of Congo to South Africa when the truck carrying the consignment was allegedly diverted into Zambia before the cargo was recovered by police in Mokambo.

He says investigations further established that after the copper was placed in police custody, it was allegedly released to a private individual through a fraudulent disposal process and later auctioned despite the owner having been identified.

Mr. Chilabi says all six suspects have since been charged and remain in police custody as investigations continue.