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A former principal accountant in the Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure Development has sued the State, claiming he has been unfairly held on police bond for nine years without trial while being denied his salary and benefits amounting to more than K2 million.
Sikelete Enoce Kashweka has taken the Attorney-General and the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) to the Lusaka High Court, demanding compensation, reinstatement, and the release of property seized from him in 2017.
According to court documents, Kashweka was arrested on December 18, 2017, and charged with theft by public servant and fraud involving K5.8 million.
Shortly after his arrest, DEC allegedly confiscated his house in Meanwood Kwamwena, a Toyota Surf vehicle, a Toshiba laptop, an Itel phone, bank accounts, and his passport.
He was suspended from his position on January 26, 2018.
Kashweka stated that before investigations were concluded, government officials made public pronouncements portraying him as guilty.
He cited a November 2018 statement by then Ministry of Finance spokesperson, Chileshe Kandeta, who suggested that stolen public funds would be recovered from him and others through their terminal benefits.
On September 24, 2018, Kashweka was dismissed from the civil service for alleged fraud and theft of K4.4 million.
He argued that the dismissal was unlawful and violated disciplinary procedures.
He was later re-arrested and charged with forgery and uttering false documents.
Despite these charges, Kashweka argued that he has never been brought before a competent court for trial.
He says repeated requests to DEC to have his case taken to court have gone unanswered, with the agency claiming the National Prosecutions Authority (NPA) is still reviewing the matter.
In his suit, Kashweka seeks a declaration that his dismissal was unlawful, reinstatement to his former position, arrears of K2,002,077 in salary and allowances, damages for unlawful detention and defamation, as well as the release of his seized assets and passport.
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