NDOLA FAMILY ARRESTED IN FRA MAIZE SCAM

Joint Government Investigations Team has seized property worth 713million Kwacha from a family in Ndola charged with Theft by Agent and Theft Contrary to Section 280(b) and 272 of the Penal Code, Cap 87 of the laws of Zambia.

According to government investigations team namukolo kasumpa, this is also contrary to the Money Laundering Contrary to Section 7 of the Money Laundering Act No 14 of 2001.

Mrs Kasumpa says the Team has seized three plots, one shopping Complex and six motor vehicles.

She says the team has also seized properties including plot number 8048 Chinese Compound valued at 130,million kwacha plot number 1324 in Kabushi valued at 16 million kwacha, a plot in Itawa valued 45 million kwacha and unregistered Spacio valued at 28 million kwacha

Mrs namukolo adds that other properties seized are a toyota Voxy registration number ACM 5064, valued at 60 million kwacha, Fuso fighter truck valued at 28 million kwacha, Mitsubishi Canter valued at 20 million kwacha a land train truck valued at 28 million kwacha, freight liner truck registration number ACT 464 valued at 160 million kwacha, and Sara’s Corner Limited Complex valued at K 200 million.

 She says Michael Chirwa aged 50, of Chinese Complex Extension and owner of Sara’s Corner in Masala Township is said to have engaged his relatives who include his wife Sarah Chirwa aged 42 and his bother Steven Chirwa aged 40.

Mr. chirwa also engaged his two sons, themba Chirwa aged 28, Sifelani Chirwa aged 22 in the theft of 18, 170 by 50 kilogram bags of maize valued at one billion two hundred and seventy one million nine hundred thousand kwacha .

Mrs Kasumpa says the brother Steven Chirwa pleaded guilty to the charge before Ndola Magistrate Honorable Walubita yesterday and the other family members are scheduled to appear on 26 June for mention.

She says the Court has since granted each family member 20 million kwacha bail with two working sureties.

In a related event in Eastern Province, mrs namukolo says the Government Joint Investigations Team has formally charged and arrested two Petauke District Farmers Association employees for Fraudulent False Accounting Contrary to Section 326 (b) of the penal Code, Cap 87 of the Laws of Zambia. 

She says John Phiri aged 35, of Show grounds Compound and Albertina Mwale aged 37  of New Houses Compound Petauke District, in their capacity as senior listing clerk and listing clerk respectively for Petauke District Farmers Association for fraudulently accounting for a total of thirty million three hundred and eighty thousand kwacha.

Mrs Namukolo says Particulars of the offence are that the two suspects issued fake Goods Received Notes (GRN) to farmers purporting to have supplied maize to Food Reserve Agency (FRA) when in fact not.

She says the two appeared in the Petauke Magistrate court for plea before magistrate Banda yesterday and trial will be on 18^th and 19^th June 2012 adding that the two are currently in Petauke Remand Prison awaiting to meet bail conditions.