20100527 press tv
The national secretary of the Zambian ruling party has been sentenced to five years imprisonment after being convicted of corruption.
Katele Kalumba, the country's former Finance Minister, three ex-treasury officials and two businessmen were all found guilty of corruption on Wednesday.
"I sentence you to five years imprisonment with hard labor," magistrate Edward Musona was quoted as saying by Reuters.
The ex-minister was convicted of accepting more than USD 15,000 in bribes to facilitate overpayments to two US-based firms contracted by the government to provide security equipment.
Meanwhile, former finance permanent secretary Stella Chibanda was jailed for five years for dishonestly receiving a farm and more than USD 50,000 from the treasury while in office.
Kalumba's lawyer Vincent Malambo said he would appeal the conviction of the former minister and Chibanda on Thursday.
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