GBM allowed to access medical attention
THE Lusaka Magistrate Court has allowed former Defence Minister, Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba (GBM) to seek medical attention abroad for 14 days.
This was after a medical doctor, Lorrita Kabwe confirmed that the accused tests could not be carried out in Zambia.
In this matter, Mwamba, who is on his defence pleaded not guilty to 24 counts of failure to declare interest and being in possession of property suspected to be proceeds of crime.
He is facing eight counts of conflict of interest, one count of money laundering and 15 counts of being in possession of property suspected to be proceeds of crime.
And in making the ruling, Senior Magistrate Sandford Ngobola allowed the defence's application to allow their client seek medical attention abroad.
It is alleged in count one that Mwamba on unknown date but between December 27, 2012 and March, 31 2013 in Lusaka, being a public officer, namely, Minister of Defence, did fail to disclose interest in writing, relating to contract No. MPC 111-12 for the supply and delivery of general purpose shelter tents for the Zambia Army, valued at US$ 1, 220, 000, a transaction that concerns the Ministry of Defence, a public body.
It is alleged in count two that Mwamba on unknown date but between January 1, 2013, and July 30, 2013, in Lusaka, being a public officer, namely, Minister of Defence, did fail to disclose interest in writing, relating to contract No. MPC 024-2013 for the supply and delivery of military uniforms for the Zambia Army, valued at US$1, 208, 575, a transaction that concerns the Ministry of Defence, a public body.
From count 10 to 24, Mwamba is alleged to have being in possession of property reasonably suspected of being proceeds of crime and one of the counts being that , Mwamba trading as Arizona Marketing and Distributors between January, 1, 2015 and June, 30 2016 possessed US$399, 985 through a bank account in the names of Arizona Marketing and Distributors held at First Alliance Bank (Z) PLC, property reasonably suspected of being proceeds of crime.