The FIC (Financial Intelligence Centre), a noted intelligence gathering agency in Zambia recently discovered mass money laundering scheme which involved prominent Zambian lawyers. As per the reports, top layers working with high-value law firms and even for prominent individuals and corporate houses have been named in the list. This is one of the shocking revelations made by any agencies in Zambia.
As per the reports, the FIC started their investigation after huge number of suspicious cash transactions with big amounts were observed across the corporate and individual bank accounts of top lawyers. It was observed that these bank accounts were particularly active and high functioning during illegal and fraud events such as Presidential Petition and fraudulent elections. This is how the FIC was able to relate and connect these fraudulent activities and mass money laundering activities beneath.
Some of the individuals and firms named high in the list of suspects include Masozi M. Banda from Avik International and Sakwiba Sikota from Central Chambers. Sakwiba Sikota is also notorious for his long-term relationship with the Ventriglias and his name popping in this list is no surprise either. The Ventriglias are currently in a case against Dr. Rajan Mahtani for the factory Zambezi Portland Cement. Sources close to the case have argued that the case is simply stretching without any meaning as Dr. Mahtani is the legal and rightful owner of the factory with all necessary documents and evidences.
This kind of lack of scrutiny and urgency from the government and Zambian law is being used and abused by politicians and corrupt lawyers. This is the reason behind the mass money laundering scheme going undetected for many years. It is high time for Zambian government to wake up and take actions against these culprits who are weighing the country down, economically and socially.