By PERPETUAL SICHIKWENKWE-
THREE police officers have been sentenced to two years imprisonment each with hard labour for attempting to extort K10, 000 from a woman they accused of illegally importing beer into the country.
Lusaka High Court judge, Chalwe Mchenga said when he jailed Felix Kafula, 42, Simon Mulenga, 39, and Conrad Bwalya, 42, that the police officers were among the few men in uniform who were tarnishing the image of the service through bad behaviour.
The officers had introduced themselves as customs officers from the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) before they accused Mary Nambita of illegally importing alcoholic beverages from Zimbabwe and demanded payment of K10, 000.
Mr Justice Mchenga said  the custodial sentence slapped on the officers who were all holding the rank of inspector would serve as a deterrent to other police officers who would want to conduct themselves in a similar manner.
He said when he convicted and sentenced the officers who were based at Siavonga, Kamwala and Woodlands police stations respectively, that the officers acted against their duty of protecting citizens from illegal activities.
Mr Mchenga said that the convicts involved themselves in the issue on the pretext of stopping a wrong act when in actual fact they were looking for money.
“Few police officers like you are among the irresponsible officers tarnishing the image of the service” Mr Justice Mchenga said.
Kafula, Mulenga and Bwalya were facing attempted extortion by threats contrary to the Laws of Zambia.
They were on November 23, 2011 in Lusaka jointly and whilst acting together with intent to extort money amounting to K10, 000 cash from Ms Nambita accused or threatened her of illegally importing assorted liquor beverages.
Kafula, Mulenga and Bwalya after finding two mini buses parked in Lilayi area approached the owners of the vehicles and discovered they were carrying 187 cases of beer from Zimbabwe without receipts for paying tax.
They introduced themselves as officers from ZRA and demanded that the owner of the beer, Ms Nambita gives them K10, 000 or else they would seize her beer.
The officers denied the allegation during trial but the court still found them guilty and convicted them of the offence.