By Staff Writer
The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) through its Anti-Money Laundering Investigations Unit in collaboration with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has jointly charged and arrested Joseph Malanji and Fredson Kango Yamba for failure to comply with the law whilst they served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Secretary to the Treasury, respectively.
DEC Head of Public Relation Mathias Kamanga said this in a statement that in the first count, Mr Malanji 56, of Plot No. 179 Acacia Road in Roma Park, Lusaka has been jointly charged and arrested with Mr Yamba 62, of Plot No. 5, Ibex Hill, Lusaka for willful failure to comply with the law.
Particulars of the offence are that Mr Malanji in his capacity as Foreign Affairs Minister at the time, jointly and whilst acting together with Mr Yamba in his capacity as Secretary to the Treasury, and other persons unknown, on dates unknown but between January 1, 2020 and August 30, 2021, directly or indirectly did influence the transfer of K154, 201,197.00 to the Zambian mission in Turkey without following the Law on Supplementary Expenditure.
In the second count, Mr Malanji has been charged and arrested for possession of property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime.
Particulars of the offence are that Mr Malanji, jointly and whilst acting together with Gibson Power Systems Limited and other persons unknown, did possess a Helicopter Bell 430 valued at about US$1,400,000.00.
In the third, fourth and fifth counts, Mr Malanji has been charged and arrested for possession of property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime.
Particulars of the offence are that Mr Malanji jointly and whilst acting with other persons unknown, on dates unknown but between December 1, 2020 and August 31, 2021 did possess three properties namely Property No 269 sub A291 of Lot 28473 where he paid US$16,733.33 cash, Property No. 270 Sub A292 of Lot 28473 where he paid US$14,311.04 cash and Property No. 033 Sub A411 of Lot 28473 where he paid US$18,955.33 cash, all of Lusaka.
Mr Yamba has been released on Police Bond while Mr Joseph Malanji has been detained in Police Custody whilst the Commission is waiting for him to meet the conditions set for Police Bond to be met.
