By JOHN-PAUL MPUNDU? –

The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), through its Anti-Money Laundering Investigations Unit, has arrested a 50 year-old Zimbabwean man for attempting to obtain money by false pretences.
Thomas Mutano, between January 1, 2011 and March 31, 2014 in his capacity as director of Pyvate Investments Limited, a company incorporated in Zimbabwe, purported not to have collected 4, 000 tonnes of maize worth US$583, 110 from the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) through some named local organisations when he had actually collected the maize.
Investigations have revealed that the maize was collected from Chitongo, Kabwe and Mungwi FRA depots and later exported to Zimbabwe by Pyvate Investments and other companies.
Mutano, with full knowledge of having collected the maize, made a claim for a refund from the FRA purporting that he did not collect the maize.
In a related development, the commission, through a joint operation with the Police in Serenje, has arrested Reagan Chama Mandona, 33, a business executive of 236 Kakola Road in Roma for cutting and trafficking in the Mukula Tree contrary to the Environmental Management Act.
The suspect has subsequently been charged for money laundering contrary to the laws of Zambia and the commission has since seized K85, 000 in cash, a Toyota Prado and nine export seals.
Meanwhile, the commission in Lusaka has arrested and jointly charged Agnes Mukuka, 46, a housemaid residing at 44004 Water Works in Libala and her son Chibwe Chitundu, 23, of the same abode for forgery and uttering of false documents.
Particulars of the offence are that Agness Mukuka and Chibwe Chitundu, whilst acting together with other persons unknown, used a forged National Registration Card in the name of Ireen Chituwo and presented it at Intermarket Securities.
They attempted to fraudulently sell 1, 000 shares from Lafarge, 32 shares from Copperbelt Energy Corporation and 3, 500 shares from Airtel belonging to Ireen Chituwo.?DEC public relations manager Theresa Katongo said the duo has since been convicted to 12 months imprisonment with hard labour by the Lusaka magistrates court.