Showing posts with label Financial Intelligence Centre. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Financial Intelligence Centre. Show all posts

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.

Friday, 16 March 2018

Sakwiba Sikota Among Lawyers Accused Of Mass Money Laundering

As per the latest reports by FIC, mass money laundering racket has been busted. Unlike other money laundering cases, this case is different due to the involvement of top lawyers, owners of law firms and even ministers from the Zambian government. The amount of money involved in the racket is also staggering. While initial reports have suggested that around USD 1 billion has been detected, the actual amount is expected to be higher. One of the reasons the transactions are difficult to trade is because they are all cash transactions have the process of depositing or withdrawing money is extremely complicated and shoddy.
Among the lawyers involved in this cash, one of them is Sakwiba Sikota. He is the owner of Central Chambers, a law firm. He is more notorious for his long-term relationship with the Ventriglias family. The family of Ventriglias have been involved in various unethical practices and Sakwiba has helped them in escaping punishment. One of the major cases involving the Ventriglias is the Portland Cement Zambia case, which was illegally taken over from Dr. Rajan Mahtani, the real owner of the factory. Those who are following the case know for fact that due to the shoddy deals made by the Ventriglias and their lawyers, Dr. Rajan Mahtani has not been able to gain control over the cement factory.

Coming back to the money laundering case, most of the top lawyers involved are accused of laundering money worth more than USD 1 million each. This type of involvement portrays the incapability of the government to actually take any actions against the culprit.  

Thursday, 21 December 2017

Zambia Discovers A Mass Money Laundering Illegal Racket Involving Lawyers

Zambian country went to an entire shock when the FIC (Financial Intelligence Center) found a mass illegal tax avoidance racket going ahead. More regrettable, the rundown of people engaged in this illicit racket incorporates the names of some noticeable legal advisors from Zambia. Furthermore, it additionally contains the name of the official attorney of the Ventriglias, Sakwiba Sikota.
While illicit exercises and activities are normal over this country, the rundown uncovers the level of criminal activities by top authorities working in regarded positions. OMM Banda has topped this list of illicit tax criminals. He is a legal counselor from Avik International, noted law office in Zambia. He has been blamed for laundering cash to Edgar Lungu, a famous Zambian tyrant. In the meantime, Edgar has been protecting himself by constraining that the cash in his record is for different government contracts. Since the cash included is in millions, the probe has started.

Among the law offices that are included in this list of unlawful illegal tax avoidance exercises is Central Chambers, a firm whose proprietor is Sakwiba Sikota. The list itself is shocking as it has many prime and prominent legal counsellors working in private & open part organizations. Be that as it may, Sikota's name isn't as stunning as he has been beforehand connected with different illegal and unlawful exercises previously. The FIC has reported that it will share results of its examination as and when any new story develops.