THE Anti-Corruption Commision (ACC) is pursuing Patriotic Front member Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba, popularly known as GBM, for various cases among them, money laundering and being in possession of property believed to be proceeds of crime.

GBM, who resigned as UPND vice-president in April 2019 to rejoin the Patriotic Front, is currently in South Africa, but has been summoned for interrogations by the investigative wings.

This in in connection to a matter contained in the Auditor General’s report involving a company that has since been linked to him.

Among the cases being investigated is a matter in which between April 2019 and August 2021, a company called Curzon Global Limited was paid amounts exceeding US$4 million dollars by the Ministry of Finance as payment for the supply of uniforms under the Ministry of Defence around 2013 when the accused was Minister of Defence.

Sources have explained that Curzon is a company that was purported to be based in Hong Kong at the time when it was awarded a government contract.

However, after a dispute, Curzon sued the government over the debt and won the case, after which another Curzon company was incorporated in Zambia, which is believed to have been paid and is linked to GBM, thereby raising a conflict of interest matter.

“On 2nd March 2017, the High Court awarded Curzon Global Limited a default judgment of US$4,602,792.58 against the Attorney General. This was in a matter in which Curzon Global Limited sued the Ministry of Defence through the Attorney General, for outstanding debt the Ministry owed the company pertaining to the supply of various clothing and equipment. In this regard, the Treasury settled the debt in eight (8) instalments between 6th March 2020and 19th June 2021,” reported the Auditor General.

The report further states that Curzon Global, was paid an extra US$ 1.4 million in penalties.

“However, due to delay in paying the adjudged amount of US$4,602,792.58, the Attorney General incurred interest in amounts totalling US$1,430,215.31 between 2nd March 2017 and 19th June 2021 out of which US$500,650.46 had been paid leaving a balance of US$929,564.85, stated the report.

Sources at Ministry of Finance have told News Diggers that GBM is believed to have benefitted from the movement of the money.

According to PACRA records, Curzon Global Limited, the Zambian based firm, was incorporated on April 12, 2016, with shareholders believed to be GBM’s relations.