A Principal Internal Auditor at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has testified that a total of USD 7.5 million was transferred into the Turkish Mission account without authority.
This came to light when Safira Muruti testified in the case in which former Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba and former Foreign Affairs Minister Steven Malanji are accused of willful failure to comply with law and being in possession of properties suspected to be proceeds of crime.
Ms. Muruti told the court that an audit was conducted at the Turkish Mission and no documents were availed supporting the transfer of the funds.
She testified that funds were used to procure a real estate but before purchase of the said property, the money was deposited into a legal firm.
Ms. Muruti testified that the procurement of the properties was supposed to be done through the Ministerial Tender Committee because the cost of the property was beyond the Mission’s threshold.
By Rhodah Mvula