LINDA SOKO TEMBO writes
@SunZambian
THE case involving a Zanaco female banker, Phanny Chaponda, who allegedly stole K500, 000, is yet to go to court as it is still under investigations.
According to Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) public relations officer, Theresa Katongo, said the matter is yet to go to court as the National Prosecution Authority (NPA) was still studying the docket.
Ms. Katongo said the suspect was currently on police bond.
Ms. Chaponda, 34 of house number RR15, Kanjala Township in Lundazi District, was arrested by the DEC Anti-Money Laundering Investigations Unit in July for money laundering activities involving over K500, 000.
Ms. Katongo told the Sun in an interview that Ms. Chaponda would appear in court as soon as the NPA was ready with the case.
“Ms. Chaponda is on bail because the money laundering case is billable she is on police bound,” she said.
“She is yet to appear in court, her docket is with NPA and once they conclude that is when they will be able to go to court. Our role ends on investigation,” she said.
Particulars of the case are that, Ms Chaponda on dates unknown, but between May 1, 2017 and December 31, 2018, in her capacity as an Assistant Preferred Banker at Zanaco Lundazi Branch, stole K573, 910.50 which she is alleged to have fraudulently transferred from various dormant accounts into two accounts.
She is alleged to have later withdrawn the money via Automated Teller Machines (ATM) and Point of Sale Machines.
“Preliminary investigations indicate that Charles Mwape, 25 is suspected to have been murdered and later left in a house of Sofia Chisanga which was set on fire,
“Police have picked up four suspects including Sofia herself aged 23, Sarah Tembo aged 19, Goodson Mulenga aged 19 and Helen Chimba aged 20 who are in Police custody to assist with investigations,” Mr Mwale said.
Mr Mwale said Ms Chisanga abandoned her one-roomed house which was also gutted yesterday around 05:00 hours where Mr Mwape aged 25 years was found dead with a deep cut on his forehead.
“Police have opened an inquiry file in the case involving the death of Charles Mwape aged 25 years of John Laing compound in Lusaka.
“The deceased is reported to have died in a one-roomed house belonging to a female only identified as Sofia Chisanga which caught fire on August 24, around 05:00 hours in John Laing Compound,” Mr Mwale said.
He said prior to the fire, it is alleged that there were some noise within the same house as if people were fighting.
After noticing the fire, he said, neighbours teamed up and managed to put out the fire and retrieved the body of Mr Mwape who was found with a deep cut on his forehead suggesting there was physical confrontation.
“The owner of the house had bolted but police managed to apprehend her while body of the deceased is lying in UTH mortuary awaiting postmortem,” he said.
