Former Atlasmara Bank, Chinsali Branch Manager has been slapped with a two years simple imprisonment which has been suspended to a 3 years sentence for theft by servant.
The court has also given the convict Cynthia Lumbinda Nswima, 31, of FTC area in Chinsali District two conditions which have been attached to the 2 year simple imprisonment.
Ms Nswima who appeared for sentencing this morning before Chinsali Magistrate Courts Principal Resident Magistrate, Julius Malata had changed her plea during trail.
In passing judgement, Magistrate Malata said the convict will serve 2 years simple imprisonment should she fail to meet the conditions set by the court.
The court ordered that Ms Nswima pays K80, 000 by January 17, 2023 or in default serves 2 years simple imprisonment.
“You shall pay K70, 000 to your former employer and K10, 000 to the state for the experiences,” said Magistrate Malata.
Magistrate Malata said the court heard all that the convict said in her mitigation through the defense counsel from Chinsali Legal Aid Board and has also taken into consideration the fact that the accused is a first offender hence the court will exercise leniency.
“The case you committed is a serious one and uncalled for as you were entrusted with public money by your employer which is the bank but you took advantage of the authority you had to gain access to an account of a person who died and this calls for serious punishment,” he said.
This is in a matter in which Nswima was charged with one count of theft by servant involving K 70,000 property of AtlasMara bank contrary to 278 penal code chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
Ms Nswima is said to have stolen the said money on September 5, 2022, belonging to an account of a dead person.
