Court adjourns fraud case

Lusaka Principle Resident Magistrate David Simusamba has adjourned the case in which a Zambian woman Edah Mkandawire concealed 3.6 million kwacha rebased worth of US dollars on her body.

The matter, which was scheduled to come up for possible defence, could not proceed because certain documents are still in the custody of the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC).

Mkandawire is jointly charged with a Pakistani National, Ashfaq Muhammed.

Muhammed is also facing a charge of being in possession of about 85 thousand kwacha rebased cash suspected to be proceeds of crime.

Mkandawire together with Muhammed, have been put on their defence on charges of having possession of property suspected to be proceeds of crime involving 700,000 US dollars.

The State Prosecutor said the court needs to request for the documents as there were administrative hurdles to have the documents released.

The state further stated that the specific documents in question include a passport and a travel ticket to Dubai belonging to Muhammed.

The other documents, which were ceased by DEC and not tendered to the court, include a marriage certificate for Mkandawire, police reports relating to the matter and a South African immigration permit.

Meanwhile, Chief Resident Magistrate Joshua Banda has adjourned the matter in which Lusaka lawyer Lewis Mosho is facing theft and money laundering.

The case comes on March 14, 2013 for possible defence.

Mosho is alleged to have on August 23, 2010 in Lusaka being a resident director and transfer agent for Shoprite holdings limited and a partner in Lewis Nathan Advocates, transfer secretaries for the Shoprite Holdings Limited stole K69, 630 on cheque number 000186 from Lewis Nathan Advocates clients account number 014/00317489/02 which was domiciled at Stanbic Bank (z) Limited, property received by him on account of Shoprite Holdings Limited.

Mosho is also alleged to have on August 23, 2010 in Lusaka engage in a business transaction whereby he partly paid for the acquisition of property number 100/94 Ibex Hill, Lusaka with proceeds of crime being K69, 630 on cheque number 000186 funds illegally obtained from Lewis Nathan Advocates clients account number 014/00317489/02 which was domiciled at Stanbic Bank (Z) Limited, which he used for clearing the balance on the purchase price of the property offered to him by National Housing Authority.

The matter comes on March 4, 2013 for continued trial.