THE Zambia Police Service says it has unearthed a crime syndicate in which two Chinese nationals allegedly hired two South Africans and a Ugandan to murder their fellow Chinese national in Chingola.

In a statement, Monday, Police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga said Zhang Lian, the proprietor of Lian-an Mining Limited, was shot at three times in the chest.

“The Zambia Police Service has unearthed a crime syndicate in which two Chinese nationals allegedly hired two South African nationals and a Ugandan to murder their fellow Chinese national in Chingola. This is in relation to an attempted murder case which occurred on March 2, 2022 at around 08:30 hours at Lian-an mining Limited Chingola in which M/Zhang Lian- aged 45 a Chinese national the proprietor of Lian-an Mining limited also of house number 80 Kabundi road Chingola was shot at three times in the chest,” he said.

“Investigations instituted into the matter led to the arrest of five suspects namely: M/Henry Kwotek, aged 40 a Ugandan of 44 Ponana street in Gauteng of South Africa, Lucky Singate aged 32 a South African national of 30 Ngcola Kwanobuale, M/Mawande Lungelo Qnoqnoza aged 34 a South African national of 41 Mqolomba in South Africa. The three suspects were interviewed and they led to the arrest of M/Cheng Moyn and M/Zhuang Pingzhen aged 47 of unknown house number in Livingstone.”

He said the three suspects said they were hired by Cheng Moyn from South Africa to come to Zambia and assassinate the victim, and that they were paid K200,000.

“The trio stated that they were hired by Cheng Moyn from South Africa to come to Zambia and assassinate the victim and that he was the one who provided two firearms, one of which was used in the commission of the crime. A firearm with an erased serial number was recovered from M/Henry Kwoteck. They further revealed that after the shooting incident they were paid K200, 000=00 by M/Cheng Moyn for carrying out the assignment,” Hamoonga said.

“Further investigations revealed that M/Henry Kwoteck had fraudulently acquired a Zambian National registration card in the name of Henry Banda on April 15, 2022 at 11:00 hours. An identification parade was conducted in which eight witnesses were called and among them one witness a driver who was booked from Livingstone to Kitwe and finally Chingola positively identified the three suspects namely: Henry Kwoteck, M/ Lucky Singate and M/Mawande Lungelo Qnoqnoza while the other seven witnesses positively identified M/Lucky Singate the hitman (gunman) who shot the victim.”

Hamoonga said the five suspects were believed to have been behind the aggravated robberies involving Chinese nationals.

“The five suspects namely: M/Henry kwotek aged 40 of 44 Ponana street in Gauteng of South Africa, M/Chen Moyn aged 42 of China club hotel in Lusaka, M/Lucky Singate aged 32 of 30 Ngcola Kwanobuale, South Africa, M/Mawande Lungelo Qnoqnoza of 41 Mqolomba in South Africa and M/Zhuang Pingzen aged 47 have been jointly charged for attempted murder while Henry Kwoteck has further been charged for two offences of [being] found in possession of prohibited article and making a false document. They are detained in police custody and will appear in court soon. The five suspects are believed to have been behind the aggravated robberies involving Chinese nationals,” said Hamoonga.

“Zambia Police wishes to warn foreign nationals coming into the country with a sole purpose of coming to commit crimes that Zambia is not such a destination where they can come and commit crime and expect to flee. As Zambia police we will not relent in dealing with such criminal elements as we stand ready to ensure that they face the full wrath of the law.”