A man of Lusaka has been sentenced to three years imprisonment with hard labour for being in possession of equipment used in the production of counterfeit driving licences. The Lusaka Fast Track Court on traffic offences sent Christopher Sinyangwe to jail after finding him guilty of committing the offence.

Magistrate Amy Sinyangwe also fined Sinyangwe K5,000 for two counts of unlawful imitation of driving licence contrary to the Road Traffic Act.
On unknown dates, but between September 1 and 24 this year, Sinyangwe, without lawful authority, did imitate and produce a driving licence in the name of Chrispin Tembo, deemed to have been issued under the Road Traffic Act. Delivering the verdict, the magistrate said Sinyangwe deserved to go to jail to deter would-be offenders from engaging in forgery and criminal activities.

This is according to a statement issued by Road Transport and Safety Agency head of public relations Fredrick Mubanga. “Mr Sinyangwe, on unknown dates but between September 1 and 24 this year, without lawful authority, did imitate and produce a driver’s licence in the name of Chrispin Tembo deemed to have been issued under the Road Traffic Act,” he said.

Mr Mubanga said Sinyangwe, without lawful authority, also imitated a driving licence in the name of John Mudenda. He said Sinyangwe, knowingly, had in his custody a central processing unit, a gateway monitor and a desk jet printer. jet, the instruments used for producing imitated counterfeit driving licenses in the third count.

Mr Mubanga said the agency is happy with the courts’ judgment as it will serve as a deterrent to would-be offenders. Last week, the court convicted and sentenced two Lusaka residents identified as Emmanuel Sichilima and Gibbon Lungu to eight months imprisonment with hard labour for attempting to obtain a driving licence by false pretences.