MUFULIRA - Former Copperbelt Province Police Commanding Officer Mwala Yuyi and a Mufulira magistrate are among six people who have been arrested and charged in connection with the alleged theft of 436 copper cathodes valued at US$448,596.
Police Spokesperson Godfrey Chilabi said the six were formally charged following investigations into the copper consignment, which was recovered in the Mokambo area of Mufulira District between March 6 and March 9, 2026.
Mr. Yuyi has been charged with one count of theft by public servant.
Meanwhile, Police Officers Patrick Muti and Boniface Nchimunya, Clerk of Court Obrian Chipunza, and Mufulira Magistrate Edward Banda have each been charged with one count of theft by public servant and one count of giving false information to a public officer.
Businessman Daniel Makina has been charged with receiving property suspected to have been stolen and giving false information to a public officer.
According to Mr. Chilabi, the copper was originally being transported from the Democratic Republic of Congo to South Africa when the truck carrying the consignment was diverted into Zambia.
The consignment was later recovered by police in Mokambo and placed in police custody.
However, investigations allegedly established that the copper was subsequently released to a private individual through what police described as a fraudulent disposal process.
“It is further alleged that the copper was subsequently auctioned despite the owner of the consignment having been identified,” Mr. Chilabi said.
Police said all six suspects remain in custody and are expected to appear in court soon.
The allegations have not yet been tested in court, and all the suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Source: Mwebantu