The Katete magistrate court has sentenced two judiciary officers to six months imprisonment with hard labour for corrupt practices.
Facts of the matter are that between April 1 and 24 in 2017, Emmanuel Mvula, a 46 year-old magistrate of Kawaza Old Local Court in Katete district of Eastern Province and Mabvuto Phiri, a 36 year-old Messenger from the same court, did solicit and actually corruptly received K1, 200 gratification from Cephas Phiri.
The amount was an inducement by Cephas Phiri who was facing a court case involving child maintenance and use of insulting language before the magistrate court.
The inducement was aimed at providing a favourable ruling towards Mr Phiri who was facing the two cases.
Presiding over the matter in Katete, Chipata Resident Magistrate Paulina Mulenga, sentenced the two judicial officers to six months imprisonment with hard labour.
Magistrate Mulenga stated that the jailed court officers were facing a charge of corrupt practice by a public officer, contrary to section 19 (1) as read together with section 41 of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 3 of 2012/ZANIS.
