THE Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) says it does not feel intimidated by former foreign affairs minister Joseph Malanji’s intention to sue for damages, adding that it is also actually looking forward to his day in court.

Following his arrest for money laundering activities involving K10 million and $700,000, Malanji said he would not hesitate to sue for damages.

But in an interview, DEC Public Relations Officer Mathias Kamanga said with the establishment of the fast track courts, it is expected that such cases would not be prolonged.

“Not at all. These processes are one after another. We wait for the next stage. I am actually skeptical to comment because the next stage is going to be court. With the establishment of the fast track courts, we do not expect these cases to be prolonged. So we are looking forward to his day in court as well as a commission. I am skeptical to comment because I do not want it to be cho-chise [exchange of words] with him,” said Kamanga

On Wednesday, the Commission, through its Anti-Money Laundering Investigations Unit in Lusaka, arrested the Kwacha PF Member of Parliament for money laundering activities involving K10 million and $700,000.

DEC also seized Malanji’s Gibson Royal Hotel in Kitwe together with two of his helicopters which are currently in South Africa, saying arrangements are being made to bring them to Zambia.

But commenting on the development, Malanji threatened to sue the commission for damages, saying never in his life has he bought anything from proceeds of crime.