The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) in Lusaka has arrested a 30-year-old banker and charged him with money laundering, forgery, and theft of over K450,000.

And the Commission, through its Anti-Money Laundering Investigations Unit, in Northern Province has also arrested an Information Technology Programmer and a Senior Systems Analyst of Kasama District for forgery.

DEC Public Relations Officer Theresa Katongo disclosed in a statement that the Lusaka banker had been fraudulently drawing money on several accounts of unsuspecting customers using ATM cards issued to himself while generating withdrawal slips fraudulently.

“Daniel Joseph Banda, 30, a banker of house number C6, Hands-worth Court has been charged with theft by servant, money laundering and forgery, contrary to the laws of Zambia. Particulars are that the suspect, jointly and whilst acting together with other persons unknown but between 1st January, 2016 and 31st December, 2017 did steal K 452, 794.72 by fraudulently drawing money on several accounts of unsuspecting customers using ATM cards issued to himself while fraudulently generating withdrawal slips. The suspect further forged bank documents purporting to have transferred money from a customer account into the bank’s investment account when in fact not, an act which resulted into money laundering. The suspect has since been released on police bond and is expected to appear in court soon,” stated Katongo.

“Meanwhile, the Anti-Money Laundering Investigations Unit in Northern Province has arrested Bizeck Mbewe, 31, an Information Technology Programmer of Mulenga Hills in Kasama District and Boyd Banda, 52, a Senior Systems Analyst also of Kasama District for forgery, contrary to the laws of Zambia. The duo jointly and whilst acting together with other persons unknown on dates unknown but between 1st July, 2017 and 31st January, 2018, did forge various receipts which were later issued to customers of Kasama Municipal Council amounting to a total of K 19, 298.30. The suspects are expected to appear in court soon.”