Zambia’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has praised a female police officer for exemplary integrity after she rejected a large bribe from a suspected money laundering suspect at the country’s main international airport in Lusaka. The officer’s action has been widely celebrated as a strong stand against corruption within law enforcement.
Detective Sergeant Ruth Nyambe, who serves in the Airports Police Unit, refused a bribe amounting to 50,000 US dollars which is about KSh124 million. The money was allegedly offered by a very high profile suspect who was under investigation for possession of huge sums of unexplained cash and gold at the airport.
According to the ACC, the suspect was intercepted during routine security checks and found in possession of 2.3 million US dollars in cash, estimated at about KSh5.7 billion, as well as seven pieces of gold. Authorities believe the money was linked to suspected money laundering activities.
Investigators revealed that the suspect initially attempted to bribe Nyambe with 5,000 US dollars to secure his release and allow him to proceed with his journey. When she firmly rejected the offer, the suspect reportedly increased the bribe to 50,000 dollars in a desperate attempt to evade arrest.
Despite the pressure and the large amount of money involved, Nyambe stood her ground and followed the law. Her refusal led to the suspect being detained and the case being handed over to relevant authorities for further investigations into money laundering and related financial crimes.
On Wednesday, Zambia’s Inspector General of Police, Graphel Musamba, officially promoted Ruth Nyambe from the rank of Detective Sergeant to Police Inspector. The officers romotion was announced as a reward for her great honesty, professionalism, and commitment to duty.
The Zambia Police Service stated that Nyambe’s promotion was meant to recognize integrity and exemplary service, while also sending a strong message to officers across the country. The ACC and police leadership emphasized that ethical conduct remains a cornerstone in the fight against corruption and financial crime.
By ZambiaReports