FRANCIS CHIPALO writes
@SunZambia
An Accountant and two others in the Ministry of General Education have been nabbed by the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) for alleged money laundering activities involving over K2.7 million, contrary to the laws of Zambia.
According to a statement released to the Sun Newspaper in Lusaka yesterday, DEC Public Relations Officer Theresa Katongo named the accountant as Lawrence Bwalya Phiri, 46, a resident of Civic Centre area in Lusaka.
Ms Katongo named the other two suspects as Eliya Mwale 41, of house number 238, Chamba Valley and Vengi Sinda, 58, a standards officer residing in Olympia Teachers’ Compound.
Details are that on dates unknown but between January 1, 2014 and 31st December, 2016, jointly and whilst acting together with other persons unknown, the trio being employees of the Ministry of General Education stole K2, 717, 471.50 from the Ministry’s account by raising nine (9) fraudulent cheques in favour of Lawrence Bwalya Phiri on different dates and later encashed them over the counter at a named bank in Lusaka.
“The trio has been slapped with five (5) charges namely forgery, uttering false documents, fraudulent false accounting, theft by public servant and money laundering, contrary to the laws of Zambia,” Ms Katongo said.
She added that the suspects have since been released on police bond and are expected to appear before the Lusaka Magistrate Court soon
