FOR 10 years, they have been waiting to hear their fate. During that time, one of them died. For those remaining, though, it is jail.
According to Zambia Daily Mail, after being convicted of theft of public resources 10 years ago, five of the six former Cabinet Office accountants have started serving their respective jail sentences.
Immediately after their convictions and sentences, the six were granted bail pending appeal.
But as they waited for appeal, one of them – John Chitalu Musonda – died in September last year before judgment could be delivered.
Musonda, who was principal accountant, former chief accountant Innocent Hatombwe, 50, local government officer Peter Kapesebele, 41, and accounts assistants Susan Mpongosa, 44, Victor Mulenga and Clement Liwena, 45, were convicted of money laundering and misappropriating public funds amounting to over K2 billion (unrebased) .