The president from an African football association has been arrested on charges relating to fraud and money laundering of Africa Cup of Nations funds.
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The president of the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ), Andrew Kamanga, has been apprehended by the country's Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) in a clampdown on alleged corruption and money laundering linked to 2023 Africa Cup of Nations funds.
The DEC has claimed that the 57-year-old used government monies under false pretences to fund trips for two associates to the continental showpiece in the Ivory Coast. They are Madalitso Kamanga and Jairous Siame, who have also been arrested, along with FAZ general secretary Reuben Kamanga.
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The suspects are alleged to have siphoned a combined total of 341 902 Zambian kwacha (about R251 700) into their personal accounts from the government, and a further 99 980 kwacha (roughly R73 700) for return flights from west Africa, and because Kamanga and Siame do not hold official positions within FAZ, this expenditure has consequently drawn the attention of the DEC.
According to the BBC, however, a FAZ spokesperson has described the arrests as a long-term plan to undermine Kamanga's reign as head of Zambian football.
"There is no immediate risk of Mr Kamanga being out of FAZ because this is just an arrest and the matter has to go to court – if at all there is any merit," they said.
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The accused are believed to be finalising bond processes, and will soon appear in court to face the charges laid against them.
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