The alleged improper acquisition of the contentious Gulfstream G650 Presidential Jet has been connected to a government official who was appointed to the Foreign Service by the previous administration.
The designated male suspect must return to Zambia so that he can testify in court over allegations of corruption, according to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
The commissioner detained former Ministry of Defense Permanent Secretary Stardy Mwale in December of last year for engaging in corrupt behavior involving more than US$573.9 million in relation to the purchase of the Gulfstream G650 Presidential Aircraft.
Mwale, 51, of Makeni’s Flat 21 Eureka Park, was charged on three counts of willful disregard for applicable law and procedure in violation of Section 34 (2) (b), as well as one count of fraudulent facilitation of payment from the public revenue.
Director General of the ACC Tom Shamakamba provided an update on the situation and stated that the commission is awaiting the arrival of a foreign suspect in relation to the acquisition of the Presidential Jet.
“There is one officer who was serving in the previous government, who is out of the country, we are just waiting for him to arrive, that one I can confirm because I have been pushing that that that he comes back.
“He was appointed in one of the countries in the embassy, actually they have facilitated, by this month end, he should be in the country,” Mr Shamakamba said.
He said once he is back in Zambia, the suspect will join others scheduled to appear in court.
“We are just waiting for that person to come,” Mr Shamakamba told a media briefing yesterday. He also gave an update on investigations relating Faith Musonda, who was in 2021 found with over K65.3 million and US$57,000 proceeds of crime which were later forfeited to the state.
According to Mr. Shamakamba, inquiries into the journalist are still ongoing since the commission believes she owns further assets that may be used as criminal profits.
After Ms. Musonda admitted guilt and turned over K65 million, US$57,900, and a home in New Kasama, properties were acquired by corrupt means, the State and ACC entered into an agreement not to pursue criminal charges against her in October 2021.
When that property from New Kasama and the money was taken from her together with the cash, she did not disclose that there were other properties she owned, so if you do not open up in full, the immunity does not warrant to be given to you,” he said.
