TRANSPARENCY International Zambia (TIZ) says the Law Association of Zambia should suspend the practicing license for Lawyer Mutemwa Mutemwa SC, for suspected professional misconduct, pending full investigations into the matter where he is alleged to have stolen US$800,000.

And TIZ has called on investigative wings to be extra vigilant as there is a possibility of huge sums of money stored in people’s houses.

On Monday, Police in Lusaka disclosed that they were investigating a case in which Mutemwa and a police officer were allegedly on the run after stealing US$800,000 (about K14 million) which was entrusted to the lawyer by a client while police conducted a search.

Commenting on the matter, TIZ executive director Maurice Nyambe hoped that the two would be apprehended in due course, stating that their conduct had placed an indelible stain on the legal and law enforcement fraternities.

“The revelation in today’s News Diggers that Mr Mutemwa Mutemwa SC, a senior lawyer, and Inspector Mano Kayombo, a police officer, are on the run having stolen US$800,000 makes very sad reading. This is because one would expect that a senior lawyer, who is in fact a State Counsel, and a police officer, would demonstrate the highest professionalism and adherence to the law, given that they are both part of Zambia’s wider judicial system. Their conduct in going against the ideals of their respective professions has placed an indelible stain on the legal and law enforcement fraternities,” Nyambe said.

“TIZ hopes that the two gentlemen will be apprehended in due course and that they will be made to face the wrath of the very law they were supposed to uphold but have seemingly mischievously chosen to mutilate. We also expect that the government will revoke Mr Mutemwa’s status of State Counsel and that the Law Association of Zambia will effect an immediate ban on his practicing license for suspected professional misconduct, pending a full investigation into the matter.”

And Nyambe called on investigative wings to be extra vigilant as there was a possibility of huge sums of money stored in houses.

“TI-Z further notes the possibility of there being huge sums of money stored in people’s houses, and we urge the law enforcement agencies to be extra vigilant in following up tips that may point to such cases. At the same time, we urge members of the public not to hesitate to provide any information they may have in this regard to the Police, in order to aid the process of bringing to light all these cases that potentially remain hidden. Our hope is that the Police will not only be thorough, but also professional, in dealing with these cases,” said Nyambe.