Two London law firms, including one run by Nelson Mandela’s personal UK lawyer, were involved in a conspiracy to launder part of $46m stolen by former president FTJ Chiluba, a London high court judge ruled yesterday at the end of a secret four-month trial.
Both firms are under investigation by the UK’s Serious Fraud Office and the City of London police for handling the proceeds of crime.
The lead defendant in the London case is the central London law firm of Meer Care & Desai who handled $10m of the stolen money, which was used to fund lavish lifestyles for Chiluba’s family and friends. One example of this was his $500,000 purchase of hundreds of suits and monogrammed shirts from an exclusive boutique in Switzerland, as well as 72 pairs of handmade, high heel shoes to extend his short stature.
Iqbal Meer is Nelson Mandela’s lawyer in London who handled the business end of his best selling autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom. During the course of the trial Mr Mandela provided a character reference. He is also a trustee, along with David Attenborough, of the Mandela Statue Fund, which last month was given permission to erect the 9ft bronze in Parliament Square. Tony Blair heads the list of honorary patrons.
The judge concluded that Meer, despite his “long and distinguished career”, must have known that the money was tainted. “I am satisfied that no honest solicitor in his position would have done what he did.” His unquestioning acceptance of the money – transferred to a London bank account by the Zambian intelligence service – was “classic blind eye dishonesty”.
After the judgment hearing, Meer’s lawyers said: “Mr Meer is disappointed with the outcome. He maintains that he acted honestly at all times and he is consulting with his legal advisers regarding an appeal.”
His partner, Naynesh Desai, is the lawyer of choice for a stellar list of international cricketers, including Ian Botham and Allan Lamb in their libel action against Imran Khan in 1996, the Pakistan all-rounder Wasim Akram, Mark Ramprakash and Mohammed Azharuddin. Mr Desai was not accused as a conspirator and the judge found him an honest witness. But he was made equally liable with Meer under the Partnership Act.
The second law firm, Cave Malik & Co, of Edgware, north London, which handled $3m , is run by Bimal Thaker, a British citizen and a close associate of the Chiluba circle who had previously practised in Zambia. The judge described Thaker as “a thoroughly dishonest witness”.
for update on the trial check www.iqbalmeer.com
Quite shameful Chiluba. No wonder you distanced Miyanda, a man of integrity.
The connection of UK lawyers and UK bank accounts clearly made London a better place to hear the case.
AHEM! once again, it doesn’t matter where the case is heard… What matters is integrity! Zambian leaders, in fact African leaders, please make us proud for once.
Why should UK handle Zambian’s cases? Maybe its because our courts aren’t competent enough. anyway, whatever the case is, Chiluba has been found guilty. Who will get the money back, that’s if its given back? I believe someone else will steal it again. And I believe that in a lot of big African crimes, there’s a white man behind?
MN, how do you expect these guys we used to beat in school and always occupied group 3 rows in class to make us proud. The best, educated and talented Africans who can make us proud are not in the system and this democracy system from the west that assumes our people are educated to make informed choices has really screwed up Africans because it allows *****s like mini bus conductors, former maids, Kaponyas to get into power easily and occupy leadership positions they don’t deserve, hence the whole screwed up application of democracy. We need a better system that puts the best brains in Africa into into power. Not this nonsense we have. It will only work when we have a large enough educated and informed population. Right now we only have about 20 % of the voters who understand issues.
Use part of the recovered money to repair roads in lusaka and pay Chiluba(the thief)”s medical bills in r.s.a
o.j beso you,re a very big big big fool. How can you come out shameless like that. Advice; think hard next time!!!!!!!!! LPM mwela onse!!!!
here we go again..when all else fails..blame the white man!!!!
i wish our courts were as fast as the london ones. some cases have gone out of court without being heard because by passage me time, witnesses and evidents have been lost. please where is the problem.
Every sin has its own penualty. Let LPM and Blair Know that corruption also exits in Europe and Africa as well. The fight agianst the vice should be a global one.The fact that lawyers were involved it makes matters worse to trust the legal system in the modern world.
Viva- Zambia.
Wena, good point. However I think that even some of the professionally challenged ilk can be held accountable. I am sure some of them mean well. In fact I should point out that I am not that educated myself, but I do know the difference between right and wrong… In short we need to get involved in righting the wrongs
Ala fyakubatu. Who killed Paul Tembo? ni Chiluba.Who killed Wise Kaunda? Ala ni Chiluba. Who killed two giudes from Longacres to cover up for Penza assassin? Ala ni Chiluba. The blood of these people is on his shoulders and let him pay for his misdeed.
Paster M Daka, am surprised by your shallow thinking. Smith was to be a witness to the Zambian ruling. You must go back to Katete buya and finish chasing rats and mice from huts and fields.
Chiluba had a dream of 10 fat cows eating nice pasture and they were eaten up by 10 thin cows. Paster M Daka, whats the meaning?
Lets face the point or issue on the table. Bringing in issues that are not of direct effect just dilutes the importance of the topic at hand.
The governmant must cage this chap (Chiluba)like any other criminal.
Justice has to prevail and in the case of the london ruling involving the former short president (ka zacheus) Chiluba, all we are earnestley looking for is to bring our tax money back and have him caged up so he can die of the illness which is eating him up. I ain,t no sympathy for him after this scandalous revelations.SHAMAE SHORT MAN.
U people are all saying rubbish.Think hard.This isn’t an easy issue.Now it’s clear that a lot of big people else where benefited from this money.I mean lawyers,politicians and maybe even Blair,coz him as the UK Pm shud know all the movements a foreign GRZ is doing in his country,especially where money transfer is concerned.S. Yard has an eye on everybody.Am sure it’s not only Blair,Uk lawyers and politicians.If the chain is loosened further,we might find that maybe even bush was involved…By the way,that money won’t be returned.FTJ is not stupid.He may go to jail,for some years,but he will come out,rich again(more richer coz the money would have earned interest).FTJ is very very clear.
I wish FTJ quick recovery unlike Ze Bige,who is trying to be inhuman…..
The Man you speak like you under class A drug.You are crazy,be releasitic ‘Man’
Bimal thaker was honest person…..he is my cousin…
Suramya upadhyay tell your cousin that the money he got from Zambia is now due for repayement back to Bank of Zambia.If he has any problem , he can contact Mulongoti in confidence on email [email protected] all know Bimal Thaker drives limos let him also pay back so that people in Kalingalinga town ship can buy limos for public transport.He was an honest person when he came from bombay to london but greedy has put him where he is today
Bane
While focusing on Chiluba please don’t forget that Chiluba chose Mwanawasa to replace him and used part of this money to get mwanawasa into power. Even though Mwanawasa has turned on Chiluba is he prepared to go all the way. Don’t forget this is the same Levy that tried very hard to protect Bulaya with a “nolle” and we were only svaed by the POST.
There is nothing to celebrate yet. The fight on corruption should encompass all not just a select few especially if your name is Sakala….
Chiluba, Kabwe, Sibande, Chungu, Sakala, Bulaya, Shansonga, Thaker, Desai, Meer, Malik……thieves, thieves, thieves. Instance justice and burning tyre for a necklace are in order…..should be tried for genocide as the plunder has deprived the most vulnerable of their basic human rights. The stolen monies would have gone a long way for clean water, education, health, hope for the orphans and many more vulnerable voiceless people.
Short man should not die,but should be allowed to suffer and die slowly,so the spirits of the zambia airways,dunlop,ROP,Colgate and many other employees should RIP.Chiluba you are a criminal and useless MAFIA,Mafias are kind to thier community,I wish you can read all these messages.
I totally agree with BA Jose. Now we that the evil deeds of smooth talking criminals have been laid bare.We must begin to make them account for the deaths of Ronald Penza and Paul Tembo.
When people with no moral values rise to power Chaos and pandamonium reign
Lets try to give chiluba a benefit of doubt! May be the man thought all government money belonged to the president, you know the Mobutu style, since they come from the same country! What can explain his paying of ‘tieth’ to a church using the same money? That’s why may be in future we should always endevour to put people with a good education background in state house! Those that would be aware that state funds are not thiers. All the same the man should be made to pay for his sins!
Kuku u are an entertaining critic.However,all ya critics are premature.U don’t have the ability to analyse and evaluate situations intellectually.This is why u are always coming up at my dearest sister Daka.Dude(or is it gal ,or bi-both-),grow up and think like a big person.If u can’t ,then try to hung out a lot with people like Daka,or me,so we can help u think wisely,view the unseen,analyse issues intelligently and broader.Think about all the possibilities and impossibilities,view issues from all angles…Don’t worry tho,coz ya ain’t the only person like that.There are a lot of people like u,who need my and our help.Read my comment again #18,and u will really appreciate me……..Change…
The ‘Man’you are under serious class ‘A’ drug.Refrain and continue blogging, how do attack a person like me?Am much more informed than you and Ba Joze of Kulima tower who is ever high on Chibuku and continously attacking Daka.This blog is not for drug addicts its for intellectuals like FTJ
The Man, please dont be a critic for nothing. Atleast not in matters like these. dont show off yo ignorance on a forum of intellectuals. Atleast, even when you criticism show that you know what you are talking about.
Surely, do you expect brother toni blair to about the zamtrop account just becoz is PM. Be serious “Man”. Stop protecting theives.
And you ELN, why should we give chiluba a benefit of doubt when a competent court has found him quilty? Chiluba is not worthy of any benefits after all he has done, not even the benefit of doubt!!!!
Prophet
Prophet, put your name in the small box, then your message in the big box, becoz messages take up a bigger space. Happy blogging!!
ARREST. DONT WAST PUBLIC RESOURCES TRYING.HE IS A THIEF.MAMBALA CHILUBA.