By Amos Sikaonga 
By Cecilia Chiluba
Choma Subordinate Court has convicted and sentenced three Forestry Officers to 9 months imprisonment with hard labour for illegally disposing of 600 timber logs.
The three have been identified as Leonard Mashata aged 49, Akabondi Akolwa 58, and John Lundumuna 35 years old.
Their functions concern the administration, custody, management and receipt of public revenue and property .
Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Head-Corporate Communications Timothy Moono said the conviction follows the arrest of the trio on one count of Willful Failure to comply with Applicable Procedure contrary to Sections 34 (2) (b) and 41 of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 3 of 2012 by the Anti-Corruption Commission in 2024.
Mr. Moono explained that allegations were that the trio, between 1st and 31st July 2021 in Choma District of Southern Province, namely officers of the Department of Forestry jointly and whilst acting together with other unknown people, did dispose of 600 timber logs impounded from five complainants who were found without any permits during an operation.
“Investigations revealed that Mashata and his colleagues sold the said timber logs without obtaining a Court Order, thereby contravening Section 82 of the Forests Act No. 4 of 2015, a matter or transaction that involved the Department of Forestry, a public body.”
“In passing judgement, Choma Resident Magistrate Honourable Selia Kanunka convicted and sentenced the trio to 9 months imprisonment with hard labour with effect from 30th April, 2025,” Mr. Moono said.
Cecilia Chiluba 
Joseph Tembo