DEC arrests 3 Ugandans for bank theft

SIX people among them, three Ugandans have been arrested in Lusaka for money laundering involving over K14.3 million.

The suspects were rounded up by the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC).

DEC public relations officer, Theresa Katongo, said the suspects, who included three Zambians, were found with software that enabled them to access the core banking system.

She explained that they transferred K14, 378, 000 from eight corporate accounts of a bank and credited 79 beneficiary accounts also held at the same institution.

Ms Katongo identified the suspects as Patrick Kafula, 38, Makhosana Ndolo, 44, Austin Daka 30, all Zambians while the Ugandans were Vincent Ssempijja, 29, Rashid Kyangulanyi, 28, and Sylvester Apuli, aged 43.

“Between 1st January, 2020 and 4th July, 2020, the accused persons unlawfully possessed two key USB loggers, one USB flash disk and one laptop containing software primarily designed to overcome security measures for the protection of data found on the core banking system.

“These devices enabled the accused persons to access the core banking system of a named bank enabling them to transfer K14, 378, 000 from eight corporate accounts of the same bank and credited 79 beneficiary accounts also held at the same bank,” she said.

Ms Katongo said the six had been charged with unlawful possession of devices designed to overcome security measures, unauthorised access to data, theft and money laundering.

Meanwhile, Ms Katongo said the DEC arrested seven people in Sesheke for unlawfully cultivation of fresh cannabis weighing 1.88 tonnes and trafficking in 46.5 kilogrammes of loose cannabis.