By LUCY PHIRI
An assistant manager at the Road Transport Safety Agency Shadreck Chozo has told the Economic and Financial Crimes Court how he discovered that 10 Higer buses were registered in the names of former Deputy Inspector General of Police, Charity Katanga.
Further asked on why some documents of the vehicles had two owners, he explained that it is because the owner Katanga got the vehicles on a loan and she was still owning Higer Bus Zambia Limited the absolute owners.
This is in a matter in which Katanga is facing one count of possession of property reasonably suspected of being proceeds of crime contrary to section 71(1) of the forfeiture of the proceeds of crime Act No. 19 of 2010 of the laws of Zambia.
It is alleged that Katanga on dates unknown between January 1, 2017 and June 6, 2022 in Lusaka with other persons unknown did possess 10 Higer buses with motor vehicle registration numbers BAF 8518 ZM, BAF 5119 ZM, BAG 8558 ZM, BAG 8559 ZM, BAG 8733 ZM, BAJ 2476 ZM, BAJ 2590 ZM, BAJ 2919 ZM, BAJ 2590 ZM, BAJ 2919 ZM, BAV 2931 ZM and BAL 9126 ZM respectively, all together valued at K26,282,770.00 property reasonably suspected of being proceeds of crime, a charge she denied.
A witness, Mr Shadreck Chozo, 38, narrated that on August 22, 2022 the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) requested information from his head office concerning certain vehicles.
He testified that he logged into their system where he discovered that all the vehicles the officer was requesting information on, were registered under the accused’s name.
Mr. Chozo said upon logging into his computer, a search was done and it was discovered that all the vehicles were registered under Charity Masambo.
In cross examinations, asked whether Katanga followed the right procedure of acquiring the said motor vehicles, Chozo responded in the affirmative.
