Court gives suspended sentence to ex-NFRA deputy

Principal resident magistrate Viva Nyimba has given former deputy executive officer of National Food Reserve Agency Gerald Viola and a business person Chrispin Chingola the three year suspended sentence

The two were found guilty of misusing office and influencing a public officer in a 3.3 billion kwacha maize deal

Speaking after delivering the sentence State prosecutor Victor Chiwala said they had proposed a minimum of five years

In his remarks defense lawyer Luciano Mickeus welcomed the suspended sentence saying is good judgment to their clients

Viola said he believes that those who have been dragging him to court are not happy with the ruling