An amount totaling K66, 576 has been paid as salary to a deserted employee at Kasama General Hospital.

This glaring irregular payment follows an examination of payroll and other related records carried out by the office of the Auditor General at the Hospital for the financial year ended 31st December, 2016.

The report reveals that the amount was irregularly paid to a Zambia Enrolled Nurse-ZEN who deserted the institution after going on study leave which ended in January 2016.

It further discloses that seventeen months after expiry of her leave, the nurse never reported for duty and her whereabouts were not known.

The Auditor General’s report adds that although her salary was locked in June 2017, the salaries irregularly paid had not been recovered as of September 2017.