Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) through its Anti-Money Laundering Investigations Unit (AMLIU) has arrested former foreign affairs Minister Joe Malanji for money laundering activities involving K10 million and $700,000.00.
in a statement obtained by q-news, DEC Public Relations Officer, Mathias Kamanga says Mr. Malanji, aged 56, residing at Plot Number 179 Acacia Road, Roma Park, in Lusaka, has been arrested for being in possession of property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime contrary to section 71 subsection (1) of the Forfeiture of Proceeds of Crime Act No. 19 of 2010 of the Laws of Zambia.
Particulars of the offence are that Joseph Malanji in his capacity as Director at Gibson Royal Hotel in Buchi, Kitwe did obtain a loan to facilitate for the development and renovations of the said hotel and that on dates unknown but between 1st January 2020 and 31st August 2021 jointly and whilst acting together with other persons unknown, did obtain K10,000,000.00, property reasonably suspected to be proceed of crime and used it to pay off the loan.
In the second count, Mr. Malanji who is also Kwacha member of parliament is believed to have procured a helicopter namely Bell 206 Jet Ranger at $700,000.00, property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime.
Mr. Kamanga says the commission has since seized the hotel together with the two helicopters one of which he was arrested for earlier both of which are currently in South Africa and arrangements are being made to have them brought into the country.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kamanga says the Commission in Lusaka has jointly charged and arrested a former Accountant and an Accounts Assistant at former Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs for money laundering activities involving over K4 million.
The two are identified as Augustine Mungandu, aged 53, residing in Chamba Valley, Lusaka and Shadreck Matabishi, aged 45 of Plot 55504 Chalala, off Shantumbu Road.
Particulars of the offence are that the duo on dates unknown but between 1st January 2019 and 30th November 2019 jointly and whilst acting together with other persons unknown did steal K3,533,770.51 from the Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs, by fraudulently withdrawing money over the counter on Electronic Funds Transfer Advice (EFTA) which were in other people’s names as beneficiaries without their knowledge.
It is further alleged that Mungandu and Matabishi and other persons unknown, on dates known but between 1st January 2019 and 30th November 2019 did forge a letter instructing a named bank to transfer money amounting to K476,000.00 to an account from which they made several cash withdraws and used the money for their own personal benefit.
He says all the suspects are on police bond and will appear in court soon.