DEC Anti-Money Laundering Investigations Unit arrests 2 busiesspersons over US$180, 000
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Lusaka, Friday 5th March, 2021
By Theresa Katongo
Public Relations Officer
Drug Enforcement Commission
The Drug Enforcement Commission through its Anti-Money Laundering Investigations Unit in Lusaka has arrested and jointly charged a Kitwe Businessman and a woman of Kalulushi for money laundering activities involving over $180, 000 United States Dollars.
The suspects identified as Bernard Angetile, male aged 54, residing at 24 Mukuba Village, Riverside in Kitwe and Linda Wezi Ngwira, aged 53 of HCH-2-14 NAPSA Complex in Kalulushi have been arrested for money laundering and obtaining goods by false pretences.
The two suspects and also business owners of Linber Enterprises Limited were contracted by the Ministry of National Development Planning (MNDP) to supply laboratory equipment for a research centre in Lusaka Province. It is alleged that the company forged documents purporting that they had delivered part of the equipment in order to get the payment when in fact not.
Particulars of the offence are that the duo on dates unknown but between 1st February, 2019 and 31st October, 2019 submitted a tax invoice valued at USD247, 839.80 and a packing list purporting that they delivered items indicated on the packing list which included two equipment’s namely: Bench-top (XRD) valued at USD145, 000.00 and Mid Infrared Fourier Transform Spectrometer valued at USD43, 000.00 as per agreed terms when in fact not.
Having been fully paid 65% (USD247, 839.80) of the contract sum claimed on the tax invoice, Linber Enterprises Limited did submit a Delivery Note to an unauthorized worker at Zambia Agricultural Research Institute (ZARI) situated at Mount Makulu in Chilanga purporting to show that they had delivered some items which included 01 Bench-top (XRD) valued at USD145, 000.00 when in fact not.
Further, Linber Enterprises Limited subsequently transferred USD55, 385.00 into its Kwacha account domiciled at a named Bank and used the said funds to settle its accounts payables which included debts and staff salaries.
Meanwhile, the Commission in Lusaka has arrested Venessa Koonjul a 28 year-old female Mauritian national residing in Zambia for trafficking in 147.7 grams of Heroin.
The suspect was intercepted at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport on 2nd March, 2021 as she was receiving a parcel which contained the Heroin.
All suspects are in Police custody and necessary arrangements are being made for them to appear before the courts of law.
Theresa Katongo
Public Relations Officer
Drug Enforcement Commission
