Belemu, Diangamo, Kasanda in court

…for being in possession of properties believed to be proceeds of crime

By MUKWIMA CHILALA 

THREE Zambians, Jim Belemu, Osward Diangamo and Shadreck Kasanda, the suspects in the unfolding gold scandal that has kept Zambians intrigued have been charged with the offence of being in possession of property believed to be proceeds of crime.

And Martha Mushipe, the Lusaka lawyer representing Dr Belemu told journalists yesterday that the matter could not proceed because the indictment was defective as the other accused persons were not appearing.

Dr Belemu, Mr Diangamo and Mr Kasanda, all business executives were arrested by the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) at different times and have been slapped with the offence of possession of property suspected to be proceeds of crime.

Dr Belemu, Mr Kasanda and Mr Diangamo along with their co-accused, Patrick Kawanu a pilot appeared before the Financial Crimes Court yesterday to answer to charges of being in possession of properties believed to be proceeds of crime.

The quartet were expected to appear before court along with nine foreign nationals who have been detained in connection with the KKIA gold scandal that is rocking the nation.

When the matter came up for possible plea, state prosecutor Gracelier Mulenga informed the court that only four Zambians were present in court while nine foreigners were not. 

The arrest of Diangamo was reported to have caused panic among the investigative wings after it was learnt that he should not have been arrested because of his alleged close connections to people with strong political influence.

But yesterday, at a press conference at State House, President Hakainde Hichilema said it did not matter who was involved in the airport gold scandal, his government would enforce the rule of law in its entirety because no one was above the law.

The JIT on Thursday raided Kasanda’s property in Lusaka’s Ibex Hill where a search was conducted in connection to the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA) botched gold scandal.

Kasanda is among the Zambian suspects who have been detained along with foreign nationals by the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) in connection with the KKIA US$5 million and Gold scandal.

Mulenga said the nine foreigners have not yet been formally charged.

The four accused persons appeared before Chief Resident Magistrate Davies Chibwili for allocation and he allocated the matter to himself.

Kasanda and his co- accused where arrested in connection with a foiled gold scam involving US$5.7 million which was intercepted by the DEC at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport on Monday. 

It seized the Global Express T7-WSS on which the items were found and another aircraft belonging to a local airline whose make is King Air B190. 

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