A former paymaster at the Public Service Commission (Public Service Commission) has appeared in court facing allegations of fraud involving nearly US$40 000, which is said to have been siphoned from the government payroll system through unlawful salary adjustments.
Brighton Chuzinga (59) was brought before the court after being accused of manipulating payroll records while employed at the Salary Service Bureau (SSB) under the PSC.
The State alleges that between October and November 2018, Chuzinga unlawfully altered the government payroll system, increasing his own salary and that of 26 payroll entries without the authorisation or approval of the Secretary of the Commission.
Prosecutors say the accused, who served as a Paymaster at the SSB from 2016 to 2021, abused his system access to effect the unauthorised adjustments.
The matter reportedly came to light in November 2018 after then PSC General Manager Mr Clemence Chiweshe detected irregular pay slips following the accused’s acquittal in a separate case.
An internal audit conducted the same year, focusing on the Salary Service Bureau Appropriation Account, allegedly revealed manipulation of the payroll system and confirmed that unauthorised salary increments had been made for the accused and 26 other payroll entries without approval from the Commission’s Secretary.
The audit further indicated that the PSC suffered an estimated prejudice of close to US$40 000, with no recoveries made to date.
Chuzinga was granted US$200 bail and is expected back in court on May 19.
