The Supreme Court recently rejected the appeal of former Deputy Finance Minister Terrence Mukupe against his conviction and sentence.
In November 2023, Mukupe was found guilty by the High Court of fuel smuggling and was sentenced to three years in prison along with a fine of US$12,780.
Along with Mukupe, his accomplices—Same Kapisoriso, Joseph Taderera, and Leonard Mudzuto—were also sentenced to three-year jail terms for their involvement in smuggling 138,979 liters of diesel in 2017. Initially sentenced to three and a half years, the court suspended six months of their sentence on the condition that they do not commit a similar offense within the next five years.
Each of the individuals was fined US$12,780, with a provision for an additional two years in prison if they failed to pay the fine.
The group was charged with fraud and an alternative offense of violating the Customs and Excise Act (false declaration).
Earlier this year, the High Court dismissed their appeal. The case was then brought before the Supreme Court, where a three-judge panel, consisting of Justices Hlekani Mwayera, Felistus Chatukuta, and Nicholas Mathonsi, reviewed the case and upheld the original decision.
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