The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) in Lusaka has arrested two accountants from the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) and a businessman for theft involving over US$110, 689.

And the commission has arrested a former protocol officer at the Ministry of General Education for theft by public servant, fraudulent false accounting, forgery and uttering of false documents.

The suspects in the first case are two FRA accountants identified as Desai Machila aged 36, of Mount Makulu, and Ellen Mwiinga aged 33, of Libala Township; and William Tamba aged 29, a businessman of Lusaka who has been arrested for fraudulent false accounting and theft.

DEC public relations officer Kamufisa Manchishi disclosed the development in a statement, Thursday.

Manchishi stated that particulars of the offence are that the trio on dates unknown but between 1st December, 2017 and 30th January, 2018, jointly and whilst acting together with other persons unknown, did make a cash deposit of K123, 000 into the Food Reserve Agency dollar account using a contract which was awarded to Shared Resources Limited for the purchase of 5,000 metric tons of white maize.

“The deposit was made by William Tamba who was an appointed agent of Shared Resources Limited while the other two suspects, being employees of FRA issued a receipt of $123, 000 instead of K 123, 000 or its dollar equivalent. This made William Tamba, as the agent for Shared Resources Limited knowingly over-collect 851.46 metric tons of white maize valued at $110, 689.21,” Manchishi stated.

And the Commission has also arrested a 39-year-old former protocol officer at the Ministry of General Education identified as Rodger Mulao for theft by public servant, fraudulent false accounting, forgery and uttering of false documents.

“Particulars are that on dates unknown, but between 1st September, 2015 and 31st December, 2017, Rodger Mulao jointly and whilst acting together with other persons unknown did steal K66, 675 from the group imprest of K157, 054 meant for the delegation of the then Honourable Minister of Education tour of Northern, Luapula, and Muchinga Provinces. Mulao, in his capacity as imprest holder for the said activity did forge details of 11 beneficiaries purporting that they had received a total sum of K 66, 675, when in fact not. He further went on to falsely account for the K 157, 054 by way of retiring the said funds, purporting that the retirement had been approved by his supervisors when in fact not,” stated Manchishi.

He stated that all the suspects are on police bond and will appear in court soon.

Meanwhile, Manchishi stated that the commission in Southern Province arrested a 36-year-old businessman identified as Doubt Mwiinga of Choma for trafficking in 1, 160 sachets of heroin and 75.48 Kilograms of cannabis.

He stated that the suspect who had been on the Commission’s watch list for a long time is in police custody and will appear in court soon.