DEC arrest 2 accountants, a businessman for false accounting
By Staff Reporter
DRUG Enforcement Commission (DEC) in Lusaka has arrested two accountants from the Food Reserve Agency and a businessman for various offences involving over US$110, 689.
In a statement, DEC Public Relations Officer Kamufisa Manchishi explained that the trio illegularly deposited cash amounting to K123,000 into the FRA dollar account through a contract awarded to an organization called Shared Resources Limited to buy 5,000 metric tonnes of Maize.
Manchishi has identified the accountants as Desai Machila, 36 of Mount Makulu, and Ellen Mwiinga, 33 of Libala township and the business man, William Tamba, 29.
“The transactions took place between December 1, 2017 and January 30, 2018,” he said.
He said the deposit was made by Tamba, an appointed agent of Shared Resources 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.
Manchishi said that 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.
Mulao jointly and whilst acting together with some unknown people stole K66, 675 from the group imprest of K157, 054, meant for the delegation of Education minister’s tour of Northern, Luapula and Muchinga provinces.
Manchishi disclosed that 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 K66, 675, when in fact not.
“He further went on to falsely account for the K157, 054 by way of retiring the said funds, purporting that the retirement had been approved by his supervisors when in fact not,” he said.
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.
