Maravi

PF presses DEC to probe Chiluba

PF presses DEC to probe Chiluba
By George Chellah
Tue 16 Nov. 2010, 04:01 CAT

PF has given the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) a 14-day ultimatum to institute investigations against Frederick Chiluba for money laundering or face legal proceedings in the High Court.

In a letter to the DEC Commissioner dated November 15, 2010, PF secretary general Wynter Kabimba stated that the allegations of money laundering against Chiluba were an appropriate case for investigation and consequent prosecution.

RING AGAINST MR FREDERICK T.J CHILUBA. I refer to the above quoted matter. Please find herewith enclosed a copy of the findings and decision by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal dated 21st July 2010 in the matter involving Mr. Bimal Bhupendra Thaker as respondent and solicitor for Mr. Chiluba in London,” read the letter in part. “I would like to draw your attention in particular to the particulars under allegation number 3 on page 2 and the findings thereof by the Tribunal on page 12. The respondent Mr. Thaker has been struck off the solicitors’ roll in England because according to one of the particulars of the allegations he ‘failed to investigate or to adequately consider the possibility that his firm had been utilised to facilitate money laundering or other illegal activity’ by his client Mr. Chiluba.

“It is my considered view that under Section 5 and 6 of the Prohibition and Prevention of Money Laundering Act No. 14 of 2001, this is a case appropriate for investigation and consequently prosecution in the interest of the Republic of Zambia and its people. Accordingly, unless we hear from you that investigations have been instituted in this matter within 14 days from the date hereof, we shall, as Patriotic Front, commence legal proceedings for an order of Mandamus in the High Court to order you to commence such proceedings.”

Recently, Thaker's practicing licence was revoked because of his conduct with former president Chiluba, which has been described as 'spectacularly stupid'.

This is according to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal findings and decision dated July 15, 2010, filed with the Law Society in the UK.

The allegations which have since been proven and action taken, were that Thaker did abuse his integrity through dealings involving the payments of monies belonging to the Zambian treasury to Chiluba and his children, former Zambia Security Intelligence Services director general Xavier Chungu’s Children, Ireen Kabwe, wife of former Access Financial Services Limited’s Fautin Kabwe among other transactions.

Thaker met Chiluba in London and had been asked by him for a cash payment of 30,000 pounds.
It was further observed that Thaker’s involvement in the payments “had clearly not been in any way connected with any legal work but had been consistent with the provision of banking facilities in transactions that bore the hallmarks of money laundering.”

David Barton, who was acting on behalf of the Solicitors Regulation Authority, was the applicant and Bimal Bhupendra Thaker of Cave Malik was the respondent in the matter.

Labels: BIMAL THAKER, COURTS, DEC, FREDERICK CHILUBA, PF

posted by MrK @ 5:58 AM