DEC ARREST MINISTRY OF HEALTH REGISTRY CLERK OF LUKULU DISTRICT IN WESTERN PROVINCE.

The Drug enforcement commission DEC has disclosed that Ministry of Health Registry Clerk of Lukulu District in Western Province has been convicted to five (05) years imprisonment with hard labour for money laundering involving over K73, 000.

DEC Public Relations Officer Theresa Katongo says Mbangu Katutu, 39, a Registry Clerk under the Ministry of Health in Lukulu District was arrested by the Drug Enforcement Commission in May 2016 for abuse of authority of office, theft, money laundering and theft by public servant contrary to the Laws of Zambia.

“Katutu Mbangu, a Registry Clerk and working as a Payroll End User at Lukulu District Medical Office, on dates unknown but between 1^st December, 2014 and 31^st March, 2016 whilst acting together with other persons unknown did without lawful authority introduce his wife Rachael Nakweti Simasiku on the Government payroll as a Registered Nurse when she was not actually an employee of the Ministry of Health” Ms Katongo said.

Ms Katongo says this resulted in Government losing K73, 839.11 as salary paid to her.

Ms Katongo states that Mbangu has since been convicted to 3 years, 2 years and 5 years respectively on charges of theft by public servant, fraudulent false accounting and money laundering. 

She adds that the suspect will, however, serve for 5 years to run concurrently.

Ms Katongo also further says the Commission through its Anti-Money Laundering Investigations Unit has arrested a businessman of Chipata District for money laundering involving K200, 000.

She says Kelvin Mwanza, 30, a businessman of Chimwemwe Compound in Chipata District has been arrested for theft and money laundering involving K200, 000 contrary to the Laws of Zambia.

“Particulars of the offence are that Mwanza jointly and whilst acting together with other persons unknown on dates unknown but between 1^st February, 2016 and 15^th March, 2016 did steal K200, 000 by unlawfully and fraudulently transferring the said money from an account holder under a named bank to his own domiciled at the same bank” Ms Katongo explains”.

She says Mwanza later withdrew this money over the counter and also via Automated Teller Machines (ATMs).

Ms Katongo notes that Mwanza used part of the money to purchase a plot in Chipata’s Mphando area.

She adds that Mwanza is currently in custody and will appear in the Chipata Magistrate Courts on 27^th July, 2016.