Case Egyptian nationals involved in gold/cash scandal fails to take off

By GRACE CHAILE

FOUR foreign nationals linked to the raging US$5.7 million scandal remain in detention as their application for habeas corpus could not be heard yesterday before the Lusaka High Court.

The four are Mr Ali Abdulla Ali Al-Safi, a St Kitts and Nevis national, Egyptian Noha Salaheldin Aly Nadim, David De La Cruz Castilla from Spain and Dutch national Teunis De Mooij.

According to an affidavit in support of ex-parte summons for leave to issue a writ of habeas corpus, the four who are detained at Chelston Police Station faces a charge of giving false information to a public servant contrary to Section 106(a) of the Penal Code, Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.

When the matter came up yesterday before Judge Ruth Chibbabbuka in Chambers, the State informed the court that they were not ready to proceed because instructions were only received the same morning.

The State therefore asked the court for an adjournment to allow them to file a response to the said application.

Judge Chibbabbuka adjourned the matter to September 1, 2023.

In their application, the applicants stated that they were engaged as a crew (pilots in-flight service attendant) by Flying Group Middle East FZCO, the operations and management company that runs the Bombardier Global XRS, serial No SN9159 and registration No. T7-WSS.

 However, On August 14, they were detained by Zambian law enforcement agencies including the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) on suspicion of among others, money laundering at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA). They stated the allegations were on unfounded ground.

 The applicants complained of being denied access to advocates and further that Mr Teunis De Mooij is hypertensive and was denied access to his medication throughout the period.

 According to the applicants, they were held at the national command centre on August 16, 2023 from approximately 09:00 hours to 23:00 hours.

They contended that their continued detention without being charged is not only unjustified but also unlawful as it is unconstitutional in that their fundamental and constitutional guaranteed rights to freedom and liberty are being blatantly violated and unfairly prejudiced.

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