Chief Justice Mambilima Warns Judiciary Staff Against Taking ‘Kick Backs’

THE Judiciary will take legal action against clerks of court using information acquired in the course of duty as means of obtaining bribes, Chief Justice Ireen Mambilima has warned.
Justice Mambilima said misappropriation of public funds was a criminal offence that was visited with serious sanctions.
Speaking in Ndola yesterday when she officially opened training workshop for clerks of court, Justice Mambilima advised clerks to attain the highest level of confidentiality in management of court records.
Justice Mambilima charged that some staff members had let the judiciary down with their conduct.
She said the works of some of the Judiciary staff had been characterized by laziness and practices such as corruption, misappropriation of funds and dishonesty.
She urged clerks of the Court to desist from engaging in illegal activities, as they were the interface between the court and the litigating public. “You are the first point of contact for those that come through the courts registry to file court documents, pay fees or seek information. Therefore, your conduct must be above board.
Be reminded that litigants that come through the local courts have no representatives by counsel. In this vein, be prompt to render the necessary guidance required by the public,” she said.