Maravi

DEC arrests PS

DEC arrests PS
By Masuzyo Chakwe
Thursday March 06, 2008 [03:00]

THE Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC)’s anti-money laundering unit has arrested Luapula Province Permanent Secretary Alfred Kalumba and a senior economist in the Ministry of Agriculture Charles Chilufya for money laundering. And DEC has also arrested the proprietor of Chrismar Hotel, Atics Bureau, Zoom Roadways and Atlantic Investments, Valden Harry Findlay, for a similar offence.

DEC public relations officer Rosten Chulu yesterday said Kalumba and Chilufya had been jointly charged with theft by public servant.

Particulars of the offence are that Kalumba and Chilufya between May 1, 2006 and February 28, 2008 in Mansa jointly and whilst acting together with other unknown public servants in the Ministry of Agriculture and the provincial permanent secretary for Luapula Province did steal K161 million which came into their position by virtue of their employment.

And in a separate incident, Chilufya has been charged with four counts of forgery, uttering of false documents amounting to K209 million and money laundering amounting to over K42 million.

And Chulu said Findlay, 45 a businessman residing at House number 9021 Lake Road, Lusaka had been arrested for lending money without a Lenders Licence and money laundering involving K200 million.

He said Findlay on dates unknown but between March 2007 and June 2007 jointly and whilst acting together with other persons unknown in his personal capacity and without a Lenders Licence did lend money amounting to K200 million to May Getrude and accrued interest amounting to K20 million.

Meanwhile, DEC has arrested one Tanzanian and four Zambians for trafficking in psychotropic substances.

Chulu said in Eastern Province, the DEC arrested Gibson Mbewe, 29, of house number 243/10 Chaisa compound in Lusaka for trafficking in 125 bundles of miraa weighing 68.5 kilogrammes.

He said the DEC also arrested Elisha Ndhlovu, 23, a peasant farmer of Imphaneni village in Lundazi district for unlawful cultivation of 556.2 grammes of cannabis and Sylvestor Ndhlovu, 25, for unlawful cultivation of 466.8 grammes of the same drug.

Chulu also said in Northern Province, they arrested Anna Michael Mgalla, 35, a business lady of Tanzanian nationality for trafficking in 15 bundles of miraa weighing 9.5 kilogrammes. He said the suspect was intercepted on a bus enroute to Ndola from Mbeya, Tanzania.

Chulu said in Luapula, DEC arrested Joel Chola, 38, of Potolo village in Nchelenge district for unlawful cultivation of cannabis weighing 1.5 kilogrammes. DEC also uprooted 21 kilogrammes of cannabis in Kapela village in chief Mununga's areas intercropped with maize and cassava.

Labels: DEC, LUAPULA PROVINCE, PERMANENT SECRETARIES

posted by MrK @ 3:30 AM