The Drug Enforcement Commission in Lusaka has arrested two accountants from the Food Reserve Agency and a businessman for various offences involving over $ 110, 689.
DEC Public Relations officer Kamufisa Manchishi explains in a statement to Money FM News that the trio deposited cash amounting to K123,000 into the FRA dollar account through a contract awarded to an organization called Shared Resources Limited to buy 5000 metric tonnes of Maize.
Mr. Manchishi has identified the accountants as Desai Machila, 36, of Mount Makulu, and Ellen Mwiinga, 33, of Libala Township, and the business man as William Tamba, 29.
He says the transactions took place between 1st December, 2017 and 30th January, 2018.
The P.R.O says the deposit was made by an appointed agent of Shared Resources Limited identified as William Tamba and was issued with a receipt of $123,000 (in dollars) instead of K123,000 (in Kwacha) or its dollar equivalent by the suspects while employed under FRA.
Mr. Manchishi says this made the appointed agent excessively collect 851.46 metric tons of white maize valued at $110, 689.21.
And in a similar incident, the Commission has arrested Rodger Mulao, 39, a former protocol officer at the Ministry of General Education for theft by public servant, fraudulent false accounting, forgery and uttering of false documents, contrary to the laws of Zambia.
According to the statement a Rodger Mulao jointly and whilst acting together with some unknown people stole K 66, 675 from the group imprest of K 157, 054, meant for the delegation of the then Honourable Minister of Education tour of Northern, Luapula and Muchinga Provinces.
Commission Public Relations Officer Mr. Manchishi says Mulao, in his capacity as imprest holder for the said activity did forge details of 11 beneficiaries purporting that they had received a total sum of K 66, 675, when in fact not.
“He further went on to falsely account for the K 157, 054 by way of retiring the said funds, purporting that the retirement had been approved by his supervisors when in fact not.” Mr. Manchishi explains.
All the suspects are on police bond and will appear in court soon.
Meanwhile, the Commission in Southern Province has arrested one person identified as Doubt Mwiinga, 36, a businessman of B489, Shampande compound in Choma district for trafficking in 1, 160 sachets of heroin and 75.48 Kilograms of cannabis. The suspect who has been on the Commission’s watch list for a long time is in police custody and will appear in court soon.