On 1st October, 2020 and 3rd November, 2020, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested Mr. Gerald Viola, Deputy Chief Executive Officer at National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) and Mr. Chrispin Chingola a businessperson respectively, on suspected corrupt practices in the award of a contract to Missies Trading to supply 10,000 metric tons of maize worth MK 3, 300,000,000.00. The ACB investigations established that Mr. Chrispin Chingola conspired with Mr. Gerald Viola to commit offences and were taken to Court where they were charged as follows: • Mr. Gerald Viola was charged with misuse of public office, interfering with the work of the Internal Procurement and Disposal of Assets Committee, forgery and conspiracy to misuse public office contrary to Sections 25B (1) of the Corrupt Practices Act, 57 (1) © as read with Section 63 (1) of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Act (2017), Section 356 of the Penal Code and Section 25 B (1) as read with Section 35 of the Corrupt Practices Act respectively.
Mr. Chrispin Chingola was charged with influencing a public officer to misuse a public office contrary to Section 25 B (2) of the Corrupt Practices Act and forgery contrary to Section 356 of the Penal Code.
The state paraded its witnesses. On 28th March, 2022, the Court found the two with a case to answer. The case will be in Court on 26th April, 2022 for defense.
EGRITA M. NDALA
PRINCIPAL PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
FOR: DIRECTOR GENERAL
