THE Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has released 30 vehicles belonging to Workers Compensation Fund Control Board (WCFCB) which were deemed to be proceeds of crime.
This is because the Commission has established that the purchase of the said motor vehicles was done in accordance with the provisions of the law.
In a media statement issued, DEC public relations officer, Mathias Kamanga said the Commission has established that the said vehicles cannot be deemed to be proceeds of crime in accordance with the Prohibition and Prevention of Money Laundering Act No. 14 of 2001 as read with the Amendment Act No. 44 of 2010.
“DEC wishes to update members of the public on investigations that were being conducting regarding Workers Compensation Fund Control Board (WCFCB), following a report about the purchase and abuse of a fleet of motor vehicles.
According to the report, it was alleged that a fleet of motor vehicles had been procured fraudulently and that the motor vehicles were being used for campaigns by a named political party during the run-up to the August 12TH, 2021 general elections,” he said.
“Investigations were instituted into the allegations which led to the seizure of 39 motor vehicles. Investigations have since been concluded and the following are the findings: The Commission has established that the purchase of the said motor vehicles was done in accordance with the provisions of the law. As such, the said motor vehicles cannot be deemed to be proceeds of crime in accordance with the Prohibition and Prevention of Money Laundering Act No. 14 of 2001 as read with the Amendment Act No. 44 of 2010,” he said.
Mr Kamanga said regarding the use of the motor vehicles for campaigns, the Commission has however established that out of the 39 vehicles, 9 are suspected to have been used for this purpose as they had been released to a certain Ministry for some “survey” assignment.
“The Commission has therefore released the 30 motor vehicles to WCFCB whilst the nine will be handed over to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to conduct further investigations in the matter.
This is because the offences suspected to have been committed with the 9 vehicles border more on abuse of authority of office contrary to the provisions of the Anti-Corruption Act,” he said.
(Mwebantu, Monday, June 6th,2022)