Task Force arrests Funjika’s fugitive co-accused

Task Force arrests Funjika’s fugitive co-accused
Written by Kabanda Chulu
Friday, December 26, 2008 11:40:00 AM

THE Task Force on Corruption has arrested and detained Anuj Kumar Rathi who was a co-accused in the case involving the convicted former Zambia National Service commander General Wilfred Funjika.

Rathi was indicted and appeared in court for corrupt practices jointly with Gen Funjika in June 2004 and during the same time, Rathi was granted bail to seek medical attention but the co-accused (Rathi) fled the country and has been on the run until December 22, 2008, when he was arrested in Lusaka.

Confirming the arrest and detention of Rathi at Woodlands Police station yesterday, Task Force on Corruption public relations officer Victor Makai said officers have been tracking Rathi during the past four years.

However, Makai refused to explain exactly when Rathi came back into the country or which country, Rathi had fled to.

“We confronted and apprehended him at Pamodzi Hotel in Lusaka on 22nd December 2008 and he went into a state of shock and was rushed to Coptic Orthodox Hospital where he received medical attention,” Makai said. “Upon discharge from hospital, Rathi was detained at Woodlands Police Station and yesterday, he underwent formal arrest procedures but it is immaterial for now to state how he came back or which country he fled to.”

The arrest of Rathi, whose co-accused Gen Funjika has been jailed, comes barely a month after another fugitive Xavier Chungu came back into the country and was formally arrested and he is currently being detained in prison facing several charges.

Rathi is represented by Chifumu Banda and would appear in court as soon as possible on contempt charges first and later on the original charges of corruption.

Initially, Rathi and Gen Fungika were arrested in March 2004 and the pair was charged with corrupt practices.

It was alleged that between December 3 and 5, 2001, Gen Funjika received 15,000 pounds as gratification for awarding Seymon Holdings, a company owned by Rathi, a contract worth 72,000 pounds, to supply berets, jerseys and raincoats to the Zambia National Service, without following tender procedures.