Kelvin Sampa denies swindling gold buyers $150,000
FORMER PF Kasama central member of parliament Kelvin Sampa yesterday denied engaging in fraudulent activities involving over US$150,000.
The money was entrusted to him by prospective buyers of gold, to help them source the precious mineral in Zambia as an agent but Sampa did not do so as he allegedly squandered the money.
Sampa is facing four criminal charges among them two counts of theft by agent, illegal possession of forged bank notes and possession of paper or implements for forgery before the Economic and Financial Crimes Court.
It is alleged in the first count that Sampa between July 27, 2024 and September 30, 2024, whilst acting together with other persons unknown, being a person entrusted with US$70,000 cash by Kunihiro Fugishima to buy Gold on his behalf, stole the said money belonging to Fugishima.
In the second count it is alleged that Sampa between August 1, 2024, and September 30, 2024, whilst acting together with other persons unknown, being a person entrusted with US$80,000 cash by Satoshi Sakamoto to buy Gold on his behalf, stole the said money.
Sampa is in the third count alleged to have possessed 110 forged pieces of US$100 bank notes on October 9, 2024.
And in the fourth count it is alleged that Sampa on October 9, 2024, knowingly had in his custody or possession 7, 622 pieces of light green paper intended to resemble and pass as special paper the size of the United States of America one Hundred Dollar ($100) Bill.
Appearing before magistrate Irene Wishimanga Sampa pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Trial commences on January 13.
By Mwaka Ndawa
Kalemba November 26, 2024