Ex- chief spy son’s case on

CHARLES MUSONDA writes TRIAL has opened in the case former Zambia Intelligence Security Service Director General Regis Phiri’s son has been accused of stealing about K1 million in foreign currency from Atlas Mara. Regis Phiri (junior), 30, of Makeni, is facing 12 counts of allegedly stealing about 54,000 British Pounds and over US$38,000 belonging to his then […]

Ex- chief spy son’s case on
CHARLES MUSONDA writes TRIAL has opened in the case former Zambia Intelligence Security Service Director General Regis Phiri’s son has been accused of stealing about K1 million in foreign currency from Atlas Mara. Regis Phiri (junior), 30, of Makeni, is facing 12 counts of allegedly stealing about 54,000 British Pounds and over US$38,000 belonging to his then employer through alleged false accounting. It is alleged that Phiri, who worked as remittance officer, in June and July last year made false entries in the Atlas Mara card management system using bank officers’ credentials to show that various amounts were deposited and authorized in different accounts when in fact not. Testifying in the matter yesterday as first prosecution witness yesterday, Atlas Mara human resource officer Lwimba Kabelu said Phiri joined the bank on November 6, 2013 and was employed as a clerk. Ms. Kabelu told Lusaka Chief Resident Magistrate Lameck Mwalethat in 2018, Phiri was promoted as remittance officer and his duties included reconciliation of accounts in operations department. She said Phiri was operating from Mulungushi branch opposite Arcades mall and that he was dismissed on August 28, 2019.  She said on July 12, 2019 she was in the office at Atlas Mara head office when a police officer approached her to confirm if Phiri was the bank’s employee. Ms. Kabelu said the officer requested for Phiri’s personal file which she gave him as she is the custodian of the folder. In cross examination by defence lawyer Jonas Zimba, Ms. Kabelu said she had not indicated Phiri’s duties at the time he was employed and that she had not brought to court a document showing his duties as remittance officer. She further said she was aware that in the operations department operations were a three-stage process, which included application, posting, and approval. She said she was aware that Phiri’s only job was to receive applications. Ms. Kabelu also said Phiri’s only job ended at receiving applications but that at that time he did something to do with accounting. She admitted that she had not brought to court any document showing that the accused person’s job description involved something to do with accounting. In re-examination by public prosecutor Stuyvesant Malambo, Ms. Kabelu said there were three people responsible for receiving, processing, and approving applications. Trial continues on 24 June, 2020. The Sun