Petauke Secondary School Head Teacher arrested for corruption involving K21,000

PETAUKE Boarding Secondary School Head teacher Simeon Sayenela Lungu has been arrested by the Anti-Corruption Commission(ACC) for Abuse of Authority of Office involving more than K 21,000.00.

Mr Lungu allegedly abused the authority of his office in the manner he arbitrary authorized Daily Subsistence Allowances (DSA) and loan payments to himself and five other members of staff using public funds.

ACC head of corporate communications Timothy Moono said in a statement the 50-year-old educator of house number B1, Chipata Day Secondary School Teachers compound, has been charged with nine counts of Abuse of Authority of Office.

The offense is contrary to Section 21 (1) (a) as read with Section 41 of the AntiCorruption Act No. 3 of 2012.

“Details are that, on multiple occasions between 1st January 2018 and 31st December 2020,

Simeon Lungu, being a public officer, namely, Headteacher at Chipata Day Secondary School, in Chipata District, did abuse the authority of his office in the manner he arbitrary authorized Daily Subsistence Allowances (DSA) and loan payments to himself, and five (5) other members of staff, using public funds, an act prejudicial to the interest of the Government of the Republic of Zambia,” Mr Moono said.

He said allegations are that on separate occasions, Mr Lungu authorized payments of K5,000.00, K3,000.00 and K6,000.00 to himself, as loans for his personal benefit using public funds.

“Additionally, on separate occasions, he also authorized payments of K1,000.00, to three members of staff, and another K1,500.00 to a member of the school’s Parent Teacher Association (PTA), as loan facilities for their personal benefit using public funds,” Mr Moono said.

Furthermore, Mr Lungu allegedly authorized a payment of K 2, 020.00 as DSA to himself when he travelled to Lusaka for private business using the school bus, and another K 915.00 to a school driver as DSA and transport, to enable him travel to Lusaka to drive his personal vehicle when he could not drive.

Mr Moono said the suspect has since been released on bond and will appear in court soon.

(Mwebantu, Wednesday, 9th April, 2023)