Nakonde agent jailed for smuggling vehicles

By BUUMBA CHIMBULU A CLEARING agent in Nakonde has been sentenced to two years imprisonment with hard labour for smuggling motor vehicles in Zambia. Through smuggling motor vehicles, Zambia was defrauded of K97, 262.99 in revenue. Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) Corporate Communications Manager, Topsy Sikalinda, announced the conviction of the clearing agent in a statement issued yesterday. Mr Sikalinda said smuggling and tax evasion were criminal offences and perpetrators would be prosecuted. “The facts of the case were that Innocent Simengwe aged 27, between May 9, 2019 and May15,  2019 in Nakonde smuggled  three motor vehicles namely; Toyota Allion; Toyota Harrier and a Toyota Hiace van by purporting that the motor vehicles  were in transit to Zimbabwe when in fact not,” he said. Mr Sikalinda said the action was contrary to section 149 and 183 (1) of the Customs and Excise Act Cap 322 of the laws of Zambia. He said the court sentenced the convict to two years imprisonment with hard labour with effect from April 15, this year on each of the three counts which will run concurrently. The convict was now serving his term of imprisonment at Isoka Correction Facility.