Police in London have recovered 79, 000 British pounds in an account of an Ethiopian national believed to be plundered resources for the Zambia government.
Task Force on Corrption was informed by Swindon police about a money transfer transaction made into the account of the Ethiopian national in suspicious circumstances.
Task Force on Corruption spokesperson Victor Makayi who confirmed the development in a statement today said the British police have since obtained a court order freezing the suspects (Ethiopian national) bank account and took him for questioning.
According to Mr. Makayi, the suspect told the police that thge money was not his, but that he had allowed the Canadian Bank Note Company (CBNC) to transfer into his account monies which they claimed was owing to Mr. Faustin Kabwe.
Mr. Kabwe was engaged by CBNC as their Zambian representative through a consultancy agreement with the Bank of Zambia in 1999.
The Task Force on Corruption believes that the transaction was an attempt by Mr. Kabwe to hide the moeny from the effect of the World Wide Freezing court order which is enforceable on him.
The freezing order does not allow Mr. Kabwe to receive monies without disclosure to the London court.
Mr. Makayi said following instructions from the Task Force on Corruption, the lawyers in London contacted Barclays Bank Swindon and served upon them the original world freezing order thereby putting them on notice of Mr. Kabwe’s status.
He said the Bank has since confirmed to the lawyers that the monies will remain frozen pursuant to the post judgement freezing order and that they will comply with any court order the lawyers will obtain.
Recently, the lawyers in London engaged by the Task Force, have obtained from the account holders (Ethiopian man) solicitors, a signed declaration, confirming that he has no interest in the funds in his account.
Furthermore, a letter has been obtained from the Canadian Bank Note Company, confirming that the funds they paid the account holders account, were payable by them to Mr. Kabwe in respect of commission due to him and that they have no interest in the money.
Mr. Kabwe has made an appeal an application in London for leave to appeal against the London judgement and the last indication on timing from Court of Appeal was that all applications would be reviewed by a single Lord Justice of Appeal during the course of this month.
Therefore, as matters currently stand, the monies are frozen by the bank, pursuant to the post judgement freezing order and the evidence the Task Force has supplied to them of Mr. Kabwe’s ownership of the funds.
If Mr. Kabwe’s application for leave of appeal is dismissed the Task Force will seek through its lawyers, an order paying the funds to the Attorney General of Zambia in accordance with the judgement.