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Task Force arrests, detains Greece honorary consul to Zambia

Task Force arrests, detains Greece honorary consul to Zambia
Written by Kabanda Chulu
Wednesday, November 12, 2008 8:33:40 AM

THE Task Force on Corruption on Monday arrested and detained Greece Honorary Consul to Zambia Demetre Vangelatos for allegedly making false documents and conspiracy to deprive his brother Aristo Gerrasmos Vangelatos' entitlement in a company they own together.

But Vangelato's lawyer Lubinda Linyama of Eric Silwamba and Company said the complaint to the Task Force is irregular because Task Force’s mandate and jurisdiction does not allow them to get involved in private matters.

Demetre, who is also Dar Farms managing director and his financial controller Amayapan Arjunan, were detained at Woodlands Police station for about five hours until their lawyers Willa Mung'omba and Lubinda Linyama arranged for police bond at K50 million each with two working sureties.

Confirming the arrests yesterday, Task Force on Corruption spokesperson Victor Makai said the duo were arrested for the offences of making a false document, uttering a false document and conspiracy to defraud contrary to the Laws of Zambia.

Makai said the duo would appear in court on November 18, 2008.

Demetre is also separately charged for making a false document and uttering in which he is alleged to have made a false deed of transfer purporting to transfer property number F/488a/15/B/3 from Aristo Gerrasmos Vangelatos and Demetre Vangelatos to Demetre Vangelatos and Aristo Gerrasmos Vangelatos.

The deed was purported to have been prepared by DzekeDzeke and Company when in fact not.

Demetre is further alleged to have uttered the same document at the lands and deeds registry at the Ministry of Lands.

Demetre and Arjunan were jointly arrested and detained for conspiracy to defraud in which it is alleged that the duo conspired to deprive Aristo's entitlement in Metro Investments Limited, a company owned by Dar Farms and Transport Limited, where [Aristo] is a 50 per cent shareholder and director.

The two have surrendered their Greek and Indian passports and the two sureties for their release were also issued in the sums of K50 million each.

Reacting to the arrests, Linyama said his clients would be seeking judicial review questioning the mandate and jurisdiction of the Task Force in matters of this nature.

"Why didn't they report to regular police and since when did the Task Force got involved in private matters? Our position is that the mandate of the Task Force is well defined and it does not include these issues, so we have gone to court questioning their mandate and jurisdiction and the matter comes up on 9th December under Judge Phiri," said Linyama. "We shall wait for the complainants to prove their case in court since they are carrying out 'forum shopping' that has led them to seek help of the Task Force in a bid to win, but we shall seek the guidance of the court."

The Vangelatos bothers have been involved in protracted court battles over some properties and companies which they own together.

And today, Aristo will be in court under Judge Florence Lengalenga for alleged contempt for occupying properties that Demetre claims to be his.

Recently, the Supreme Court advised Aristo and Demetre to take their differences for arbitration because the issues at hand were of a civil nature.

Aristo wants the court to declare that Dar Farms and its related subsidiaries should wind up but Demetre does not want, saying the company is a going concern.

Labels: CORRUPTION, TASK FORCE

posted by MrK @ 8:35 AM