Ever hear of Frederick Chiluba? Me niether until I ran into this news item at The Guardian:
UK lawyers helped Zambia ex-president launder 23m
Two London law firms, including one run by Nelson Mandela's personal UK lawyer, were involved in a conspiracy to launder part of $46m (23m) "plundered" by a former African president, a high court judge ruled yesterday at the end of a secret four-month trial.
Both firms are under investigation by the Serious Fraud Office and the City of London police for handling the proceeds of crime. One insider has described the investigation as the "flagship corruption case for sub-Saharan Africa".
In a damning 220-page judgment Mr Justice Peter Smith accused ex-president Frederick Chiluba of Zambia, who left office in 2001, of shamelessly defrauding his people and flaunting his wealth with an expensive wardrobe of "stupendous proportions".
The judge reserved his most abrasive remarks for Chiluba, whose corruption trial in Zambia has been repeatedly postponed because of his ill health. He refused to give evidence to the court. Mr Justice Smith singled out as "the most telling example of corruption" 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 5ft stature. "This was at a time when the vast majority of Zambians were struggling to live on $1 a day and many could not afford more than one meal a day. The people of Zambia should know that whenever he appears in public wearing some of these clothes he acquired them with money stolen from them."
Interesting that one of the lawyers worked for Nelson Mandela (communist and corrupt as hell -- excellent at public relations though). A bit more on this:
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".
Rope, tree. Some assembly required.
