Community Action Against Corruption – CAAC – has challenged Director of Public Prosecutions – DPP – Gilbert Phiri to explain why his office has not appealed the five-month jail sentence and K2,000 fine handed to those convicted in the Sugilite scandal by the Mansa Subordinate Court.
Organization Chief Executive Officer Brighton Tembo says the punishment given to the convicts, some of whom were senior government officials, is extremely lenient and not reflective of the gravity of the offence.
Mr. Tembo has warned that the DPP risks being remembered as one of the worst-performing office holders in the country’s history if he fails to appeal the judgment.
He says the DPP should not only be active when appealing convictions involving individuals from the previous regime but must also demonstrate fairness and courage by appealing questionable acquittals, including that of former president Edgar Lungu’s Economic Advisor and his family who faced over 70 corruption-related charges.
Mr. Tembo has further described the current anti-corruption fight as selective, arguing that the silence of the dpp and law enforcement agencies over such cases undermines public confidence in the justice system.