Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network for Southern Africa
Announcements
ARINSA news
ARINSA NEWS
Court Orders Forfeiture of Former First Lady’s 15 Luxury Properties
By National Prosecution Authority of Zambia | 27 September 2024
In furtherance of Zambia’s asset recovery efforts, the Economic and Financial Crimes Court has ordered the forfeiture of 15 luxury flats valued at ZMW 66 million belonging to former First Lady, Esther Nyawa Lungu, declaring them proceeds of crime. The judgment marks a key moment in the country’s ongoing fight against financial misconduct.
Delivered today, the court ruled that the former first lady failed to provide sufficient evidence proving that the properties were acquired through legitimate means. Her assertion that her husband, former President Edgar Lungu, had financed the construction of the flats was dismissed due to the absence of supporting documentation. Read more...
_________________________________
Mozambique: Privinvest seeks appeal against London court ruling of $2B damages
By Editor | 19 Septemebr 2024 | Club of MozambiqueLebanese shipping group Privinvest on Wednesday asked to be allowed to appeal against the decision of the London Commercial Court that obliges the shipping group to pay around US$2 billion (€1.8 billion) in compensation to the Mozambican state.
At a hearing being held in the Commercial Division of the High Court in London, Privinvest’s lawyer, Duncan Matthews, asked for the execution of the payment to be suspended so that an appeal could be heard.
The lawyer invoked, among other reasons, Mozambique’s failure to disclose important official documents, so that “a fair trial was not possible”.
Privinvest also said that it does not have enough funds to pay the stipulated amount and warned that if this suspension is not accepted, it will have to go into insolvency. Read more...
_________________________________
Mozambique: PGR calls for multisectoral cooperation to fight organized crime
By Editor |16 September 2024 | Club of MozambiqueThe assistant attorney general and head of the specialized criminal department within the Mozambican Attorney General’s Office (PGR), Amabélia Chuquela, has called for multisector cooperation in fighting against money laundering, drug trafficking and the kidnappings that have been plaguing the country’s major cities.
According to Chuquela, who was speaking to reporters on Saturday, in Maputo, during activities marking the 35th anniversary of the foundation of the PGR, the investigation of specific crimes faced nowadays by the country demands multisector cooperation. Read more...
_________________________________
EACC hands over corruptly acquired assets worth Sh5 billion
By Allan Kisia | 11 September 2024 |The Star Kenya
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has handed over to the government recovered assets valued at Sh5 billion that were corruptly acquired.The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has handed over to the government recovered assets valued at Sh5 billion that were corruptly acquired.
EACC chief executive officer Twalib Mbarak handed over 35 title deeds measuring approximately 18.71 acres at a ceremony held at State House Nairobi on Wednesday. Read More...
_________________________________
10 September 2024 | National Prosecution Authority of ZambiaIn a significant development in Zambia’s battle against financial crime, the State has successfully secured the forfeiture of ZMW 58 million in Gold, $200,000 in cash and a Toyota Prado from two Chinese nationals convicted of conveying property suspected to have been stolen. This significant action highlights the power of forfeiture in dismantling the financial networks that sustain criminal activities. Read More...
__________________________________
By Muhamadi Byemboijana |9 Sepember 2024 | Soft Power NewsThe Inspectorate of Government has revealed that it recovered UGX 14B from the orders issued for recovery in Financial Year 2023/2024.
The IG noted that a cash payment of UGX 6B was deposited into the IG asset recovery account and property worth UGX 8.7B was handed over to the institution in lieu of cash.
In the same financial year (2023/2024,) the IG received 2377 complaints concerning corruption, Ombudsman and Leadership Code of Conduct.
Of the 2377 complaints, 1260 were registered from the Head Office while 1117 were registered across the 16 IG Regional Offices. Read More...
__________________________________
South Africa’s Justice Minister Scrutinized Over VBS Loan Controversy
By Oliver Meth |Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting project |29 August 2024
Simelane is accused of receiving a 575,600 South African rand (US$32,258) loan in 2016 from Gundo Wealth Solutions—a company involved in brokering unlawful investments into the now-defunct VBS Mutual Bank—while serving as mayor of Polokwane Municipality in Limpopo province from 2014 to 2021. She allegedly used the loan to buy a coffee shop in Sandton, South Africa’s upmarket economic hub. Gundo Wealth Solutions, owned by Ralliom Razwinane, is directly connected to the illegal investments of municipal funds into VBS Mutual Bank, for which Razwinane is currently on trial for fraud, corruption, and money laundering as a commission agent linking municipalities, including Polokwane, to the now-defunct bank. Read More...
___________________________________
Judicial Training on Anti-Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Held in Windhoek
By Staff writer |UNODC| 19 August 2024
Windhoek, Namibia, 19 August 2024 – The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Regional Office for Southern Africa (ROSAF), serving as the Secretariat for the Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network of Southern Africa (ARINSA), and in partnership with the Namibian Judiciary and Financial Intelligence Centrer officially launched the Judicial Training on Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Asset Recovery on August 19, 2024. This four-day workshop aims to enhance the capabilities of High Court Judges and Magistrates in Namibia to effectively address the complexities of AML and asset recovery within the judicial system. Read more...
___________________________________
N$18m stolen from SME Bank paid to Mugabe’s pilot
By and Timo Shihepo and Timo Shihepo |The Namibian| 19 August 2024
A total of N$18,8 million stolen from SME Bank was transferred to and laundered by former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe’s pilot and confidant Robert Mhlanga. This is according to court documents filed in South Africa’s Gauteng High Court by SME Bank’s liquidators Ian McLaren and David Bruni. The liquidators said approximately N$20,8 million was transferred from SME Bank into the trust account of a Johannesburg law firm called Paul Casasola & Associates between 2014 and 2015. The law firm is owned by Mhlanga’s then lawyer Paul Casasola, who kept N$2 million of the stolen funds. Read more...
___________________________________
'Hidden debts': PGR recovers assets worth 400 million dollars - AIM
By Staff Reporter |29 July 2024 | Club Of MozambiqueThe Mozambican Attorney-General’s Office (PGR) has recovered assets valued at about 400 million US dollars from those found guilty in the “hidden debts” trial that took place in Maputo in 2021-2022.
19 suspects were tried in the case that revolved around the illicit loans for over two billion US dollars obtained from the banks Credit Suisse and VTB of Russia by three fraudulent, security-related companies, Proindicus, Ematum (Mozambique Tuna Company) and MAM (Mozambique Asset Management). Read More...
___________________________________
By Trust Freddy |9 August 2024 | The HeraldTHE Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has recovered more than 350 vehicles that were illegally imported through the abuse of the civil servants’ vehicle rebate scheme that allows established civil servants to import vehicles duty-free.
Yesterday, the steering committee of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy met to review progress of the past four years by its sub-committees. Read More...
___________________________________
Looting of Covid-19 funds: R52 million in assets including houses and vehicles seized by State agents
By Jonisayi Maromo | 29 July 2024, IOLVarious movable and immovable assets and property, valued at approximately R52.6 million has been seized in an extensive joint operation on Tuesday, linked to personal protective equipment (PPE) corruption and Covid-19 looting.
The operation was carried out in Mpumalanga by the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) of the National Prosecuting Authority, the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (known as the Hawks). Read More...___________________________________
South Africa’s money laundering watchdog names and shames
South Africa’s Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) has slammed legal practitioners, estate agents, trust service providers, company service providers, and various other sectors for keeping the country on the grey list.
These sectors have yet to complete risk and compliance return (RCR) submissions as instructed by the FIC, which were due on 31 May 2023. The FIC warned that these sectors are at risk of administrative sanctions.
“Certain designated non-financial businesses and professions are continuing to ignore Financial Intelligence Centre directives aimed at helping South Africa exit the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force,” the FIC says. Read More...
___________________________________
Mozambique: Corruption cost state €5.8 million in the first half of 2024
By Staff Reporter I 12 July 2024, Club of Mozambique
According to figures from the Central Office for Combating Corruption (GCCC), the Mozambican state suffered losses of around 405 million meticais (€5.8 million) due to corruption offences in the first half of this year.
The figure is an increase on the same period in 2023, when losses totalling 183.3 million meticais (€2.6 million) were recorded, according to the GCCC, an agency of the Mozambican Public Prosecutor’s Office.
In the first six months of this year, the Mozambican authorities seized assets valued at €589,000 resulting from acts of corruption. Read More...
___________________________________
Money laundering cases too slow- CJ
By Bame Piet | 9 July 2024, The Voice BW
Chief Justice Terrence Rannowane has lamented the sluggish pace at which money laundering cases are being prosecuted in the country describing them as stagnant.When addressing participants at a two-day colloquium for officers of the Administration of Justice on Monday, the Chief Justice highlighted the findings of the 2017 Mutual Evaluation Report, which revealed that the courts have concluded a few cases of money laundering, with only four convictions. Read More...
___________________________________
By NOKUNCEDA MAGAGULA | June 18 2024, Eswatini Obsever
The national budget is anticipated to receive a significant boost as assets forfeited by the state from money laundering activities will be injected into the national budget. Read More...
___________________________________
UNODC and ARINSA Strengthen Namibia’s Anti-Money Laundering Efforts with Crucial Workshops
By Staff Reporter | June 10 2024, UNODC Website
From June 10-13, 2024, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in collaboration with the National Prosecuting Authority of South Africa and the Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network of Southern Africa (ARINSA), organized two important workshops in Windhoek, Namibia. These workshops aimed to enhance Namibia’s ability to recover proceeds of crime and improve the skills of 27 legal practitioners and 20 investigators. Read More...___________________________________
Businessman who laundered over R3 million from government department sentenced
By Robin-Lee Francke | Jun 21, 2024 IOLA Free State businessman has been sentenced in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on money laundering charges. Read More...
___________________________________
UNODC and ARINSA Host Workshops for Prosecutors and Investigators in The Seychelles
By Staff Writer 13 June 2024 | UNODC Website
In an effort to strengthen The Seychelles' ability to combat money laundering and terrorism financing, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the National Prosecuting Authority of South Africa as the joint secretariat of the Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network of Southern Africa (ARINSA) organized two workshops: one for prosecutors and another for investigators. The workshops, which took place from 3-6 June 2024, aimed to build the capacity of investigators and prosecutors in applying effective asset confiscation methodologies and practices.
___________________________________
More suspects linked to R2.8bn Ponzi scheme arrested
By Staff Reporter | 3 June 2024 Sunday WorldThe long arm of the law has finally caught up with two more suspects implicated in the R2.8-billion BHI Ponzi scheme.
The recent arrests of 54-year-old Sona Pillay and Michael Philip Adam, 55, come after the Hawks’ serious commercial crime investigation put Graig Roy Warriner behind bars.
The 60-year-old Warriner was convicted and sentenced to 25 years imprisonment on 206 counts of fraud and one of contravening the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act for operating an investment scheme without a licence or being registered as a financial service provider. Read more...
___________________________________
Anti-money laundering agency flags terror financing risk in banks
By John Mutua | 20 May 2024 Business DailyThe Financial Reporting Centre (FRC) has flagged foreign ownership of some local banks in Kenya as presenting terrorism financing risks in the latest assessment of the country’s exposure and preparedness to fight dirty cash. Read more...
Supported by
