News

International Asset recovery and return of k700, 000 Cash

The NPA has successfully recovered over K700,000 cash which was stolen and laundered by a Mauritian national who was employed by a Zambian based Mauritian Company Forges Tardieu Zambia Limited (FTZ) in Mazabuka district of the Southern province of Zambia. Mr. Dhiraj Dhumputh was employed as a Site Construction Manager by the Company and proceeded to engage in fraudulent activities using fake receipts, invoices and delivery orders. The case was reported to the Drug Enforcement Commission who forwarded the matter to NPA for trial. The NPA launched a 2 pronged, parallel approach in the matter which involved criminal proceeding and civil forfeiture proceedings at the same time. Mr Dhumputh raised defences in both matters, however Honorable Justice Susan Wanjelani found that the money was tainted and forfeited it to the State in the civil proceeding, a similar position was taken

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81 year old man, was acquitted for the offence of Trafficking in Psychotropic Substances

Mr. Tie Mwape, an 81 year old man, was acquitted for the offence of Trafficking in Psychotropic Substances contrary to the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act No.35 of 2021. Despite being found in possession of Cannabis also known as Marijuana, the senior citizen was acquitted due to a legal technicality. The third schedule of the said Act, provides that a product must have more than 0.3 percent of tetrahydrocannabinol, the active ingredient in Cannabis, to be deemed a psychotropic substance. Due to the qualitative and not quantitative testing methods currently available, the percentage of the tetrahydrocannabinol in the cannabis found on Mr. Mwape could not be presented to the court, resulting in the acquittal.

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