By 
Former Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA) Director-General, Victor Nyasulu, and three co-accused will stand trial on corruption-related charges after the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court dismissed their application to strike out several counts for allegedly failing to disclose an offence.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Court ruled that the indictment was properly framed and contained all the legal elements required to sustain the charges.
Delivering the ruling, Magistrate Peter Mungala held that each of the seven counts clearly sets out the statement of the offence, the particulars of the accused persons and the relevant provisions of the law.
Read more: Primary healthcare gets boost as ZAMMSA reportedly receives second batch of kits
He said the indictment sufficiently disclosed the alleged offences and provided adequate particulars to enable the accused persons to understand the case they were required to answer.
“I find that the indictment contains all the required ingredients as regards the particulars of the offence and discloses a reasonable charge,” Magistrate Mungala ruled.
He added that the alleged anomalies raised by the defence had no merit and dismissed the application in its entirety.
The matter was adjourned to June 30 and July 1 for continuation of trial.
Nyasulu, ZAMMSA Director of Supply Planning Nalishebo Siyandi, Director of Procurement Habadu Nchimunya and Dr John Kachimba have all pleaded not guilty to charges of abuse of authority of office and wilful failure to comply with procurement laws.
Prosecutors allege that between December 2023 and January 2024, Nyasulu, Siyandi and Nchimunya abused their authority by approving contracts under a “mop-up” procurement process conducted under questionable circumstances.
The State alleges that the accused approved contracts involving a bidder who submitted a bid after the official closing date, authorised procurements above prescribed price thresholds, bypassed evaluation procedures and undertook procurement processes prejudicial to the interests of the government and other bidders.
The accused deny the charges.
WARNING! All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR.
Comments