UNZA Finance Officer Accused of Stealing Over 557,000 Dollars

A former University of Zambia (UNZA) employee has been arrested for alleged theft and money laundering involving over 557,000 dollars.

Chafye Enerst Siuluta, aged 49, committed the offence when he was employed as Administrator and Finance Officer at UNZA School of Medicine, where he was in charge of research.

Drug Enforcement Commission spokesperson, Allan Tamba, has confirmed the arrest of Siuluta, who allegedly authorised payments of the money to individuals who were not employed to work on research study projects.

Mr. Tamba says the fraudulent transactions were for research study funds provided by the National Institute of Health of the United States of America and disbursed through the University of Nebraska.

He explained that the suspect would write cheque payments to known individuals, who cashed them and then deposited the money directly into his personal accounts at various banks.

Mr. Tamba added that the commission has since seized three houses and apartments in Lusaka’s Meanwood Ibex area, which are reasonably believed to be proceeds of crime.