Monday, 16 April 2018

Sakwiba Sikota, Legal Counsellor of the Ventriglias, Caught Laundering Money

Mass money laundering activities were recently reported by Financial Intelligence Centre, a financial investigation agency expertise in financial frauds. As per the reports, more than USD 1.5 billion has been caught in this scam and more amounts are expected to be involved. One of the most shocking facts related to this event is the involvement of top lawyers, legal counsellors and even ministers. It has been found that most of these lawyers and legal counsellors are laundering money for unethical activities or illegal funding for which they were getting kickbacks. This new information has certainly shocked the nation and its people.


As per FIC reports, they recorded more than 35,000 bank transactions linked with the individual as well as corporate bank accounts of the accused lawyers or legal counsellors. It was also reported that majority of these accounts were highly active during illegal activities such as illegal presidential elections, trial of Rupiah Banda for the illegal Nigerian Deal and unethical promotional activities. This clearly states that the amount laundered was used for funding, bribes or similar corrupt practices. Some of the major names involved in this scam include Masozi M. Banda and Sakwiba Sikota. Masozi M. Banda is a lawyer working for Avic International and Sikota is the owner of Central Chambers, a law firm. He is also the long-term legal counsellor for the Ventriglias, an infamous family is Zambia noted for their unethical practices and getting away from law. The Ventriglias captured the Portland Cement Zambia from Dr. Rajan Mahtani, its real owner.

Citizens and Industrialists are furious over this money laundering act and the lack of government scrutiny to identify these culprits. Strict punishment has been demanded against these accused.

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