THE Economic and Financial Crimes Court in Lusaka has found Peter Simbule, a trader from COMESA Market, guilty of giving false information about goods he was bringing into the country.
Simbule was facing three charges which are bringing goods into the country without proper paperwork, smuggling and lying about the goods.
The court found him guilty of lying but cleared him on the other two charges.
The case showed that Simbule, together with other unknown people, had over 2,200 boxes and 44 bottles of alcohol without any customs documents.
The alcohol was hidden under maize bran in a truck and was discovered while being offloaded at a warehouse in Lusaka.
The goods were falsely declared so that he could avoid paying taxes and the truck and the alcohol were taken by authorities.
According to the Zambian Revenue Authority (ZRA) lost over K4.5 million in taxes because of the false declaration.
The court said tax crimes are becoming more common and need to be punished seriously.
Simbule has been ordered to pay a fine of K85,000 or go to jail for eight months and must also pay back K4,567,165.93 in unpaid taxes to the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA).
ZRA spokesperson Oliver Nzala said the case shows that tax evasion will not be allowed and offenders will face the law.
By Catherine Pule
Kalemba, June 12, 2025
