Businessman complains about DEC’s wrongful money laundering arrest

COMMENT - Sounds to me that he has cause to sue both the bank and the DEC.

Businessman complains about DEC’s wrongful money laundering arrest
millioBy Ernest Chanda
Mon 04 Oct. 2010, 04:00 CAT

A LUSAKA businessman arrested last week by the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) for allegedly laundering K280 million has complained that the Commission has embarrassed him over a crime he did not commit.

Musa Dimingo, 55, complained in a statement that his bank committed the error on a transaction and that he did not use the money as was being alleged. Dimingo contended that he was detained and ridiculed before he could even be tried in court.

“To my utter surprise on the 24th of September 2010, 12 days after the money was sent back, I was accosted by Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) and requested to appear before them on the 25th of September 2010 which I did oblige. Further to my surprise, I was extremely shocked when DEC informed me that I was under arrest for theft of K280,000, 000.00 which money I did not even touch or use. I was detained for one night at Lusaka Central Prison police post and I am currently on K50,000, 000.00 bail,” Dimingo explained.

“On 29th September 2010, to my further surprise my case details were given to the media by DEC and the matter has been aired on almost all radio stations in the country causing me and my family extreme embarrassment. I am suffering for an error I did not commit and for monies I did not temper with or steal. I have undergone embarrassment, detention and ridicule before even being proven guilty before the courts of law.”

Domingo narrated that when he noticed an error with his account, he reported to the bank manager immediately.

He explained that the bank kept assuring him that they were sorting out the problem.

“On 20th August 2010 my account with Barclays Bank was credited with K280, 000, 000.00 being sale proceeds for my late brother’s estate. A few days after, on the 24th August 2010, I received a duplication credit of the same amount (K280, 000, 000.00) and immediately notified my bank. Upon notification, my bank advised that they would investigate the matter and revert to me in due course,” he stated.

“On the same day, my wife, a co-signatory to the joint account noticed the anomaly and notified the bank as well and the same response was given to her. On several occasions between 20th August and 6th September 2010, I followed up the issue with my bank (Barclays Bg the matter.”

Bank Holiday Inn branch) and they continued to inform me that they were investigatin
Dimingo

said 16 days later in consultation with his bankers; he transferred K300 n into his less active account in the same bank.

He said he did so because he wanted to pay the beneficiaries of the estate.

Dimingo narrated that Barclays Bank was aware of every step he took.

He said the bank manager finally instructed him to transfer the money bank into the initial account, which he did and the bank confirmed.

Dimingo complained that he was shocked to see DEC officers approach him over the same.