By AARON CHIYANZO
FORMER Foreign Affairs minister, Joseph Malanji and former Secretary to the Treasury, Fredson Yamba have been charged and arrested over alleged fraudulent activities involving over K154 million while Mr Malanji has also been charged for possession of property, including a helicopter reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime.
Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) Head of Public Relations, Mathias Kamanga said Mr Malanji and Mr. Yamba failed to comply with the law whilst they served in Government.
Mr Kamanga said in the first count, Mr. Malanji, 56, in his capacity as Foreign Affairs Minister at the time, with Mr. Yamba in his capacity as Secretary to the Treasury, and other persons unknown, on dates unknown but between January 1, 2020 and August 30, 2021, directly or indirectly did influence the transfer of K154, 201, 197.00 to the Zambian mission in Turkey without following the law on Supplementary Expenditure as provided by Article 203 of the Zambian Constitution Act No. 2 of 2016.
“This is contrary to section 34 of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 3 of 2012 of the Laws of Zambia,” he said.
Mr Kamanga said in the second count, Mr. Malanji was charged and arrested for possession of property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime contrary to section 71 of the Forfeiture of Proceeds of Crime Act No. 19 of 2010.
He said in a statement that Mr. Malanji, acting together with Gibson Power Systems Limited and other persons unknown, did possess a Helicopter Bell 430 valued at about US$1, 400, 000.00.
Mr Kamanga said in the third, fourth and fifth counts, Mr. Malanji was charged and arrested for jointly and whilst acting with other persons unknown, on dates unknown but between December 1, 2020 and August 31, 2021 did possess three properties namely Property No 269 sub A291 of Lot 28473 where he paid US$16, 733.33 cash, Property No. 270 Sub A292 of Lot 28473 where he paid US$14, 311.04 cash and Property No. 033 Sub A411 of Lot 28473 where he paid US$18 ,955.33 cash, all of Lusaka.
He said Mr Yamba had been released on Police Bond while Mr. Malanji was in police custody whilst the DEC was waiting for him to meet the conditions set for police bond to be met.
