Forgery earns tax consultant 18 months imprisonment

By BUUMBA CHIMBULU

FABRICATING documents has landed a tax consultant in Lusaka to 18 months imprisonment with hard labour after conviction on one count of forgery and uttering, contrary to section 352 of the Penal Code Cap 87 of the laws of Zambia.
The accused, Jones Malete Nyeleti, was found guilty and by the Lusaka Magistrate Court and sentenced him on both counts to 18 months imprisonment with hard labour with effective yesterday.
This is according to the Manager – ZRA Corporate Communications, Oliver Nzala, who said the sentences were to run concurrently.
Mr Nzala said Government could have lost over K1.2 million in Value Added Tax (VAT) refund in this forgery.
“Facts of the case are that Jones Malete Nyeleti on unknown dates but between the January 1, 2020 and August 27, 2020 in Lusaka, jointly and whilst acting together with others unknown, with intent to deceive or defraud, did forge a document namely Audit Agreement form between CD Middleton Enterprises and ZRA purporting to show that it was genuinely issued and signed by an officer of ZRA when in fact not,” he said.
According to Mr Nzala, the tax consultant further uttered the same document to ZRA.
“The court, in passing the sentence, stated that the crime committed by the convict was serious and needs custodial sentence to deter would-be offenders,” he said.