Malanji is in court for third party laundering – Mukelabai
SENIOR assistant commissioner of the Drug Enforcement Commission under the Anti- Money Laundering Unit, Kwaleyela Mukelabai says former minister of foreign affairs Joseph Malanji is in Court for third party laundering as some of his suspected tainted property is not registered in his name.
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During cross examination by lawyer Makebi Zulu, Mukelabai informed the Economic and Financial Crimes Court that Malanji possessed a helicopter the Bell 430 ranger, which is still registered under the National Airways Corporation of South Africa.
When he was quizzed before principal resident magistrate Irene Wishimanga if Malanji purchased the aircraft in his personal capacity, Mukelabai said Malanji purchased it through his company Gibson Power Systems to which he is a sole signatory to the company accounts.
He said the bank statements were proof, of the correspondence between NAC and Gibson Hotels and the invoice issued to Royal Gibson Hotels because, Malanji requested so.
Asked if Gibson Air Charters is the owner of Bell 206 jet ranger, Mukelabai responded in the affirmative.
“The aircraft has never been registered in Mr Malanji’s name we are here because of third party laundering,”the investigator said.
Asked if he had charged Malanji for concealing property and third party laundering, Mukelabai responded in the negative.
Asked if Royal Gibson Hotel owns any property as a legal entity, Mukelabai denied.
He said there was nothing irregular about the purchase of the hotel in Kitwe.
“Malanji is a beneficial owner in the hotel and money in the accounts went to him. I found a transaction of US$105, 000 in Gibson Air Charters sitting in the account. The money was withdrawn by Malanji who was the sole signatory,”Mukelabai said.
“There’s no withdraw from the counter there was a transfer to Safari…., transfer for helicopters and a swift transfer. The money was not transferred to Joseph Malanji,” Mukelabai said.
Earlier during cross examination by Fredson Yamba’s lawyer Luckson Mwamba, Mukelabai said the budget estimate under head 17 was not tampered with.
He said after former ministry of foreign affairs permanent secretary Ronald Simwinga reversed the money for the purchase of property in Turkey, it was moved to head 21.
He confirmed that according to the Auditor General’s report Ministry of Finance (MoF) spent less than what parliament had approved under head 21 in the national budget.
Mukelabai said Yamba was part of procurement of the properties in Turkey because he was the chief controlling officer and he breached Section 4 of the Public Procurement Act
He confirmed that since he appointed Simwinga as the controlling officer, the latter was accountable to ensure that everything was done in accordance with procurement Act.
“That’s why he (Simwinga) reversed the K108 million. Simwinga’s procurement entity started the procurement process,” Mukelabai said.
He confirmed that the money was disbursed to Turkey and Yamba was not responsible for how it was used.
In this case Yamba and his co-accused Malanji, are accused of failing to adhere to guidelines relating to the management of public resources and possessing property suspected to be proceeds of crime.
Yamba is alleged to have abrogated the law relating to the management of public property when he approved the transfer of K154, 201, 197 for the purchase of a chancery in Turkey.
Malanji is accused of possessing two helicopters, BELL430 and a BELL 206 Jet Ranger helicopter, and houses suspected to be proceeds of crime.
The matter comes up on October 25.
By Mwaka Ndawa
Kalemba October 19, 2024.