MUFULIRA - Former Copperbelt Province Police Commanding Officer Mwala Yuyi has been arrested and charged with theft by public servant in connection with the alleged theft of 436 copper cathodes valued at US$448,596.
Police Spokesperson Godfrey Chilabi confirmed the development in a statement, saying Mr. Yuyi was jointly charged with five other suspects over the alleged offence.
"The suspects have been jointly charged with offences including Theft by Public Servant, Giving False Information to a Public Officer, and Receiving Property Suspected to Have Been Stolen," Mr. Chilabi said.
According to police, the copper cathodes were recovered in the Mokambo area of Mufulira District between March 6 and March 9, 2026.
Mr. Chilabi said the consignment was originally being transported from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to South Africa when the truck carrying the copper was allegedly diverted into Zambia.
The copper was subsequently recovered by police in Mokambo and placed in police custody.
Police investigations allegedly established that the consignment was later released to a private individual through what authorities described as a fraudulent disposal process.
The police further allege that the copper was subsequently auctioned despite the owner of the consignment having already been identified.
Other public officers jointly charged in connection with the matter are Police Officers Patrick Muti and Boniface Nchimunya, as well as Clerk of Court Obrian Chipunza and Magistrate Edward Banda, all of Mufulira.
Police said the four officials have each been jointly charged with one count of theft by public servant and one count of giving false information to a public officer.
Meanwhile, businessman Daniel Makina has been charged with receiving property suspected to have been stolen and giving false information to a public officer.
Police said all six suspects have been charged and remain in custody, with the matter expected to come before the courts soon.
The allegations are yet to be tested in court, and all the accused persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Source: Kalemba