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| Woman Shattered After Court Acquits Hubby, Sentences Her to Prison |
In a heartbreaking courtroom moment, a woman was left devastated after being sentenced to three years in prison while her husband was acquitted. Woman Shattered After Court Acquits Hubby, Sentences Her to Prison in Joint Corruption Case Wanziya Chirwa and former Minister of Home Affairs Stephen Kampyongo were in the dock facing a joint corruption case. The couple had been charged with 12 counts of possessing property suspected to be proceeds of crime. Mwebantu reports that the allegations levelled against them spanned over a decade from January 2012 to September 2022.
The court found Mr Kampyongo not guilty of all charges, but his wife, a planner at the Ministry of Youth, Sport, and Art, was convicted on five counts. “I find Stephen Kampyongo not guilty of all counts and acquit him,” Magistrate Munyinya said. “However, I convict Wanziya Chirwa Kampyongo on counts seven, eight, nine, 11, and 12.” Despite Magistrate Sylvia Munyinya announcing his acquittal, the man appeared momentarily stunned and hesitant to leave the dock. His demeanour contrasted sharply with the sentencing of his wife, who was found guilty of possessing properties suspected to have been acquired illegally. The court handed the wife a three-year prison sentence, with all five counts set to run concurrently, meaning she will serve three years in total. Wanziya was visibly distraught as she attempted to shield her face from the media while being led into detention.
The allegations against the couple involved millions of shillings in properties, including an incomplete house valued at K8.6 million. They also own undeveloped plots and large sums of money in bank accounts. Wanziya was found guilty of owning properties and substantial bank balances, while her husband was acquitted of possessing real estate. Both denied the charges, with Mr Kampyongo maintaining that his assets were acquired legally through his work as a lawmaker and civil servant. His wife argued that some of her assets were gifts from her parents, while others came from earnings in the real estate and farming sectors. However, the court found Wanziya’s explanations unconvincing, noting that there was insufficient evidence to support her claims of a profitable farming business.
“There was no proof of production at the farm,” the court noted, adding that she had failed to provide the necessary documentation to justify the substantial funds and properties under scrutiny.The case saw a once-prominent couple stand side by side in the dock, only for one to leave shattered as she began her three-year sentence while her husband walked free.
by Hillary Lisimba