..as reinstated senior cops vindicate the Patriotic Front Government for firing them after being named in sugilite and gold/cash scandal.
By Zambian Whistleblower
Lusaka, Aug. 28 – Five Egyptian and six Zambian suspects involved in the sausagegate scandal have appeared before the Lusaka Magistrate Court but could not plea as defence lawyers insisted the matter be heard in the High Court.
But missing from the group of Egyptians is the 6th suspect whom we had earlier reported was the senior most and had close links with the Egyptian Presidency.
Also Read: Hichilema’s close associates get implicated, we name them for clarity’s sake!
This is the mystery suspect that the Egyptian media had reported about, leading to the arrest of one Journalist.
The mystery over the identity of this sixth Egyptian suspect has led to speculation that when the suspects were moved from Lusaka Central Police to Kalundu Guest House, this very high value suspect was allowed to leave the country.
It is now believed that this person is now at the forefront of orchestrating a favourable outcome for the group currently in detention using the Egyptian government as leverage.
The Egyptians are understood to be offering to forfeit all the money so far found on the plane, but have insisted that they leave with the aircraft.
The fear the Egyptians have about leaving behind the Jet is that further inspection would expose that the plane has very sophisticated security upgrades, which maybe similar to the ones done on Zambia’s Presidential Gulfstream G650.
We are reliably informed that infact, people should not be allowed to approach this Jet at night unaccompanied because there must be more money in hidden compartments as target purchase of gold in Zambia was 500Kg.
It is therefore not surprising that the amounts of money involved in this scandal have been changing from US$40m, to US$11m, US$7m and US$5.6m.
Because of the amounts of money involved, it is also not surprising that there have been reports of other similar planes having come and gone after the deal went sour.
Among the Zambians who have appeared in court, is Francis Makeyo the State House “operative” named as one of the key schemers. He is also the one believed to have run off with US$5m cash, although during his interrogation only about US$1m has been traced.
Also appearing was Zambia Police Service Airport Commandant Robinson Moonga whom we named in an earlier report as having paid back US$50,000 he had pocketed.
All the suspects have been charged for Espionage, but there are no charges related to illegal sale of gold, undeclared foreign currency or importation of arms and ammunition.
The Egyptian suspects are obviously hoping that the longer this case takes, the greater the chance that it will be resolved diplomatically between the two governments.
Also Read: Zambia Egypt plane seizure: The cash and fake gold that no-one is claiming.
We equally have a question for you. Are you aware that the senior most police officers implicated in both sugilite and gold cash scandals are officers who the Patriotic Front government retired in national interest but we’re brought back by Mr. Hichilema on fake grounds that they were victimised?
Mrs. Mulele was Commanding Officer for Luapula Province when the sugilite scandal burst. She was quickly transfered to Northern Province but was later arrested with former Luapula Province Minister Chilundika.
The current Commanding Officer at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport ( KKIA), Robinson Moonga, was also brought back under the same programme.
What is your take on this situation?
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