A 32-year-old Lusaka accountant has been sentenced to six years’ imprisonment with hard labour for stealing K2, 283,123 from his employer, First Choice Logistics Limited, which he spent on gambling and alcohol.
Raunaq Kochar, an Indian national, was charged with 97 counts of theft by servant, contrary to Section 277 of the Laws of Zambia.
Particulars of the offence were that between January 3 and August 14, 2026, Kochar stole a total of K2, 283,123 belonging to First Choice Logistics Limited, where he was employed as an accountant.
When the matter came up for plea before Magistrate, Mbuywana Simvula, last week, Kochar readily admitted all 97 counts and convicted him upon his own confession.
Facts before the court were that Kochar was employed by First Choice Logistics Limited, a Lusaka-based logistics and transport company, in 2025 and remained in employment until September 2, 2026.
The court heard that the company engaged an auditing firm after discovering financial irregularities.
The audit established that between January 3 and August 14, 2026, a total of K2, 283,123 had been withdrawn from the company’s Kwacha and United States Dollar accounts held at Indo Bank Zambia Limited.
The audit further revealed that Kochar transferred money from the company’s accounts to himself and gambling companies through mobile money accounts belonging to unsuspecting Airtel and MTN agents.
He also allegedly made payments to mobile money numbers by entering them into the company’s payment system using the details of other employees.
When questioned about the missing funds, Kochar admitted that he had used the money for gambling and alcohol.
The matter was reported by Given Siang’umba, a Liaison Officer for the Surya Group of Companies, a sister company to First Choice Logistics Limited.
In mitigation, Kochar expressed remorse for his actions, saying he regretted what he had done and would not repeat the offence.
He pleaded with the court to be lenient, asking that the sentence imposed should not destroy his life.
In sentencing, Magistrate Simvula said she had considered Kochar’s mitigation and taken into account that he was a first offender.
However, she described the offences as serious, noting that none of the stolen funds had been recovered.
“The crimes you committed are serious offences, and none of the missing funds were recovered. This was not a crime of opportunity, but a serious, well-thought-out and systematic act. You broke the trust the company had placed in you,” Magistrate Simvula said.
She subsequently sentenced Kochar to six years’ imprisonment with hard labour, with all 97 counts to run concurrently.
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