DEC arrests Zanaco employee for siphoning customers’ accounts

DEC arrests Zanaco employee for siphoning customers’ accounts
By Chibaula Silwamba
Sun 17 Jan. 2010, 04:00 CAT

THE Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has arrested a Zanaco employee Noreen Chilaizya for allegedly siphoning about K200 million from customers’ accounts.

Insiders at ZANACO said Chilaizya, who works from Lusaka, was arrested recently.
When contacted yesterday for comment, DEC public relations manager John Nyawali declined to confirm the name of the bank but admitted that Chilaizya, 42, was arrested for money laundering involving over K200 million.

“Yes, I can confirm that Noreen Daka Chilaizya was arrested together with Kalumpha Daka, a business development officer at Target Zambia Limited. However, we cannot disclose the name of the bank she works for,” Nyawali said.

“The duo is on dates between 1st January 2008 and 30th August 2009 illegally transferred a total of K207 million from various accounts of a renowned commercial bank to their personal accounts held with different banks.”

He said Chilaizya and Kalumpha had been released on bond and would appear in court soon. Meanwhile, Nyawali said the DEC arrested two Tanzanian nationals for trafficking in 16 pieces of hashish cake weighing over 15 kilograms.

“Ally Handu, a driver and Chrispin Nselena a conductor of a Tanzanian registered bus were arrested from the InterCity Bus Terminus in Lusaka following a discovery of hashish cake pieces which were hidden at the back seat of their bus. The two, who are employees of Taqwa Bus Services, were coming from Tanzania enroute to Harare, Zimbabwe,” Nyawali said. “The DEC has since seized the bus pending court proceedings and the two have been detained in police custody.”

He said over the last six days, the DEC seized 497 kilogrammes of cannabis.
Nyawali further said 69 people were arrested countrywide for trafficking in various quantities of the psychotropic substance.

“Among those arrested is a grade nine pupil of Lukanda Basic School in Kapiri Mposhi who was found selling cannabis,” said Nyawali.