An emotional Chitembwe explains his experience when he was charged with corruption

By , K24 Digital
On Mon, 12 Apr, 2021 15:31 | < 1 min read
Justice Chitembwe
Justice Said Juma Chitembwe during JSC interviews to pick a new Chief Justice. PHOTO/Screengrab by K24 Digital.

High Court Judge Said Chitembwe on Monday became emotional while explaining his experience when he was charged with corruption regarding embezzlement of funds at the NSSF when he was the company secretary.

Chitembwe was temporarily suspended from the Judiciary in 2010 after being charged with conspiracy to defraud NSSF Sh1.7 billion but was later reinstated in 2011 after the anti-corruption court cleared him for lack of evidence.

While interviewing for the position of Chief Justice, the judge was in tears explaining what transpired.

“My personal experience is that we were two initially, me and the CEO. Two lawyers who were handling the transaction were enjoined and they filed an application to stop the hearing of the criminal case and I had to go to the Court of Appeal because I was not involved in the application to be heard. I wanted the public to be told what I stole and what I took so that this issue is settled."

He added: "The Court of Appeal agreed and we went back and we were heard."

Justice Chitembwe said that 35 witnesses were called and he was found to have no case to answer.

"This experience makes you know if an accused person comes before you and raises his hand, hear him..,” he told the JSC panel.