By LUCY PHIRI
LUSAKA Principal Magistrate Jennifer Bwalya has adjourned to August 15, 2022, the matter in which former Foreign Affairs minister Joseph Malanji and former Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba are facing five counts of willful failure to comply with procedure on supplementary expenditure and possession of property.
The two pleaded not guilty to committing the offences.
When the matter came up on Friday for continuation of trial, Ms. Bwalya set August 15, 2022 for trial.
It is alleged in the first count that Mr Yamba, on dates unknown, but between January 1, 2020 and August 31, 2021 in Lusaka, being Secretary to the Treasury, jointly and whilst acting together with other persons unknown allocated and authorised the transfer of K108, 401,197.00 to the Zambian Mission Account in Turkey for the procurement of real estate without following the law.
In count two, it is alleged that Mr Yamba, on dates unknown, but between Januatry 1, 2020 and August 31, 2021 at Lusaka in the Lusaka secretary to the Treasury, also allocated and authorised the transfer of K45, 800,000.00 to the Zambian Mission Account in Turkey for the procurement of real estate without following the law.
Details in count three, four and five which are in respect of Mr Malanji, he allegedly possessed a Bell 430 Helicopter, a Bell 206 JET RANGER Helicopter and Gibson Royal Hotel, properties suspected of being proceeds of crime.
Magistrate Bwalya is one of the magistrates who is on the transfer list.
Recently Ms. Bwalya has been sending her cases back to the Chief resident magistrate CRM for reallocation to other magistrates.
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