DEC arrests Joseph Malanji for money laundering
Written by MRadio on March 24, 2022
By KETRA KALUNGA
THE Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) through its Anti-Money Laundering Investigations Unit has arrested Kwacha Member of Parliament Joseph Malanji for money laundering activities involving K10 million and $700, 000.
Mr Malanji, aged 56, of 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.
This is 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 Mr 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 1, 2020 and August 31, 2021 with other persons unknown, did obtain K10, 000,000, property reasonably suspected to be proceed of crime and used it to pay off the loan.
In the second count, Mr. Malanji is believed to have procured a helicopter namely Bell 206 Jet Ranger at $700, 000, property reasonably suspected to be proceed of crime.
The hotel has since been seized together with the two helicopters (the other one being the helicopter he was arrested for earlier) which are in South Africa and arrangements are being made to have them brought into the country.
Meanwhile, the DEC 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 Mr Augustine Mungandu, aged 53, of Chamba Valley, Lusaka and Mr Shadreck Matabishi, aged 45 of Plot 55504 Chalala, off Shantumbu Road.
Particulars of the offence are that the two on dates unknown but between January 1, 2019 and November 30, 2019 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 alsoalleged that the two with other persons unknown, on dates known but between January 1, 2019 and November 30, 2019 did forge a letter instructing a named bank to transfer money amounting to K476, 000 to an account from which they made several cash withdraws and used the money for their own personal benefit.
In a separate incident, the DEC has arrested Mr Gift Mpulumba Katuka, aged 34, of Kabitaka Extension, Plot No. 11291, Solwezi for theft by public servant, forgery and uttering, and money laundering.
Particulars of the offence are that Mr Katuka, an Assistant Registration Officer at the Department of National Registration, Passport and Citizenship office in Solwezi with other persons unknown on dates unknown but between May 24, 2018 and February 11, 2021 did steal K997, 620 by purporting to have deposited the said money into the Government Account and even forged deposit slips when in fact not.
All the suspects are on police bond and will appear in court soon.
