NOW, EGYPTIAN GOLD SUSPECTS CHARGED

…the Drug Enforcement Commission arrests, charges five Egyptian nationals, senior police officer with espionage, joining Zambian suspects slapped with the same treasonable offence

By NATION REPORTER 

THE gold and US$5.6 million scandal that has since sucked in some State House officials yesterday took a salacious dramatic turn after the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) arraigned five Egyptian nationals after charging them with the treasonable offence of espionage.

The DEC in collaboration with other Law Enforcement Agencies (LEA) formally arrested and jointly charged the five Egyptians and six Zambians including a senior police officer for espionage contrary to section 3 (a) of The State Security Act Cap 111 of the Laws of Zambia.

The five Egyptians who have jointly been charged with Zambia nationals include Walid Refaat Fahmi Botros, Mounir Shaker Gerges Awad, Mohamed Abdelhak Mohamed Gooda, Yasser Mokhtar Abdelghafor and Micheal Adel Micheal Batros.

The Zambian suspects, now arrested and charged with espionage include Shadreck Kasanda Kapasa, Patrick Kwangu, Mulungu Oswald Diangamo, Francis Maluba Makai-Mateyo and Robinson Moonga. 

The arraignment of the five Egyptians come after Makebi Zulu Advocates, the Attorneys for Shadreck Kasanda, exposed the States covert preferential treatment of the foreign suspects in the gold and cash scandal, who it was disclosed had been accommodated in some luxurious government Lodge in Kalundu.

Makebu Zulu Advocates had asked the State to immediately withdraw criminal charges against Kasanda one of the suspects arrested in the country’s now infamous gold and cash scandal or the law firm would commence court proceedings which would lead to naming and shaming State House personnel involved.

According to the indictment, the occupations of the Egyptians include, general manager, factory owner, pensioner Colonel, Health and Safety Environment Officer and businessmen.

The number of Zambian suspects in the gold scandal has officially risen to six, after Francis Mateyo, a senior Police officer while a Patrick Makayo believed to be a UPND operative but stationed at State House has also been fingered.

All the 11 gold and cash suspects are said to have been jointly and whilst acting together, did enter a protected place, namely Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA) for purposes that were prejudicial to the safety and interest of the Republic of Zambia.

“Particulars of the offence are that Walid Refaat Fahmi Botros, Mounir Shaker Gerges Awad, Mohamed Abdelhak Mohamed Gooda, Yasser Mokhtar Abdelghafor, Michael Adel Micheal Batros, Shadreck Kasanda Kapasa, Patrick Kwangu, Mulungu Oswald Diangamo, Francis Maluba Makai-Mateyo and Robinson Moonga on August 13, 2023 at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, jointly and whist actong together, did enter a protected place, namely Kenneth Kaunda International Airport for purposes that were prejudicial to the safety and interest of the Republic of Zambia,” reads the indictment.

[/ihc-hide-content