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BoZ witness testifies in Mahtani, Sangwa forgery case

BoZ witness testifies in Mahtani, Sangwa forgery case
By Maluba Jere
Thu 21 Oct. 2010, 08:50 CAT

A witness on Monday told the Lusaka magistrates court that Lusaka lawyer John Sangwa brought letters to the attention of the governor bearing a forged signature of the deputy governor.

This is in a matter where former Finance Bank chairman Dr Rajan Mahtani and Sangwa both pleaded not guilty to one count of forgery, three counts of uttering a document and another count of fabricating evidence.

When the matter came up for commencement of trial before Lusaka chief resident magistrate Charles Kafunda, Bank of Zambia (BoZ) secretary in charge of litigation Dr Leonard Kalinde narrated that on July 28, 2010, he was called to deputy governor Dr Denny Kalyalya’s office where he was given a letter from Simeza Sangwa and Associates.

He explained that the letter in question had another letter attached to it, purported to be from the deputy governor’s office.

“I read the first letter, in that letter, which was addressed to the governor Bank of Zambia, the author whom I later learnt to be Mr John Sangwa was saying he had called the governor’s secretary to try and set up an appointment with the governor but by the end of business day, the office of the governor had not got back to him so he decided to write that letter in order to get the Bank’s position on the attached letter of 12th July 2010,” Dr Kalinde said.

“I proceeded to read the attached letter which was addressed to the commissioner, money laundering investigations unit Drug Enforcement Commission.”

Dr Kalinde told the court that he found the letter strange and concluded that it could not have been written by Dr Kalyalya because he categorically denied being the author.

He told the court that later, Sangwa was invited for a meeting in the governor’s office where he Sangwa was asked to state the purpose of his visit.

Dr Kalinde testified that Sangwa informed the meeting that he had come across the attached letter which he said had disturbing information and wanted the Bank’s position on the matter.

He said the governor asked for Sangwa’s view on the matter and Sangwa said it was difficult to state in that one could not jump to conclusions but the contents of the letter were so close to the actual events hence his decision to get the bank’s position.

“The governor then asked Dr Kalyalya to comment and he categorically refused being the author of the letter and expressed surprise that some people could go to such an extent to bring his office into disrepute,” Dr Kalinde said.

“He further said the letter was a fabrication and went on to point out things on the letter which were completely a fabrication or misrepresentation.”

Dr Kalinde said Sangwa told the meeting that banks or financial institutions were not run by saints and it was BoZ’s responsibility to correct wrongs.

He explained that in his opinion, Sangwa suggested that dialogue should be pursued by both parties in resolving the BoZ’s concern on the shareholding of Finance Bank adding that he had even written many letters to the bank but there had been no feedback.

Dr Kalinde told the court that on July 30, 2010, he replied to Simeza Sangwa and Associates stating that the letter of July 12, 2010 which was brought to the bank’s attention by Sangwa was a fabrication.

He said in the same letter, he bemoaned the fact that Sangwa had chosen to copy the said letter to other people before getting the bank’s position.

During cross examination, Dr Kalinde said the bank asked the police to help investigate the letter of July 12, 2010.

Labels: BOZ, JOHN SANGWA, RAJAN MAHTANI

posted by MrK @ 3:54 PM