DEC wants Higer buses forfeited

THE Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has applied for forfeiture of convicted former Deputy Inspector General of Police, Charity Katanga's 10 Higer buses valued at more than K26 million.

It also filed that K1.5 million in Chibeka Express Limited be forfeited to the state.

Chief Investigations Officer at DEC, Edwin Mwanza filed that the Higer buses registration numbers BAF 5118 ZM, BAF 5119 ZM, BAG 8558 ZM, BAG 8559 ZM, BAG 8733 ZM, BAJ 2476 ZM, BAJ 2590 ZM, BAJ 2919 ZM, BAV 2931 ZM and BAL 9126 and K1, 522, 005.15 in Chibeka Express Limited be forfeited to the state.

In this matter, Katanga pleaded not guilty to one count of possession of properties reasonably suspected of being proceeds of crime contrary to section 71(1) of the Forfeiture of the Proceeds of Crime Act No. 19 of 2010 of the laws of Zambia.

On Monday, Chief Resident Magistrate Davies Chibwili convicted and jailed Katanga to three years simple imprisonment effective from the day of arrest.

However, Katanga applied for bail pending appeal alleging that the court erred at law when convicting her after providing the relevant documents.

Mr. Mwanza in an affidavit in support notice said he also seeks an order for the forfeiture of K 1, 522, 005.15 in Chibeka Express Limited Account Number 9130000699156 Stanbic Bank Ndola Main Branch which was generated by the interested person through operation of a transportation business using the 10 Higer buses that are proceeds of crime, which therefore make the money in the said account equally a proceed of crime.

He said the application was made pursuant to Section 4 and 10 of the Forfeiture of Proceeds of Crime Act. 1.

Mr. Mwanza also submitted that there was evidence on record from the prosecution witnesses and the defence witnesses that the cited account received money from the operation of the 10 buses that are proceeds of crime.