A DRUG Enforcement Commission (DEC) investigator yesterday told a Lusaka magistrates' court that Mahtani Group of Companies lawyer, Zaheeda Essa was uncooperative during the search for original share transfer forms between Zambezi Portland Cement documents and Finsbury Investments.

DEC anti-money laundering unit investigator Justine Phiri, 41, of house number 31 Musuku Street, Libala Stage II said on February 16, 2010 Essa refused to accompany investigators into her (Essa) office during a search for the original share transfer forms.

Mr Phiri said officers from DEC, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and police asked Essa to give them the keys to her office, which was located at Finance Bank buildings, but they were not availed to the officers.

This is in a case in which Essa is charged alone in the first count with obstruction of authorised officers contrary to section 26 (e) of the Prohibition and Prevention of Money Laundering Act number 14 of 2001 before chief resident magistrate Charles Kafunda.

In the second count, Essa is charged with 11 other employees for obstruction of authorised officers contrary to section 26 (a) of the same Act.

Particulars of the first count were that Essa was alleged to have between February 13 and 15, 2010 with other unknown persons as a Mahtani Group of Companies legal counsel obstructed authorised officers by failing to produce original share transfer forms for Zambezi Portland Cement documents to which there was reasonable ground to suspect an offence had been committed under the Prohibition and Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

It is alleged in the second count that Essa and 11 others on dates unknown but on or about February 15, 2010 jointly and while acting together with unknown persons, obstructed, hindered and or delayed authorised officers from DEC from exercising power conferred on them under the same Act.

"According to the investigations I carried out at both Patents and Companies Registration Office (PACRO) and Finance Bank building review that in undertaking the letter Essa wrote to PACRO, she might be in a better position to know where the original documents are," Mr Phiri said.

Mr Phiri said investigative officers forced open the door to Essa's office after she allegedly refused to avail the keys.

He said a team of 14 officers that was constituted to investigate the alleged money laundering at Finsbury Investments also found the door to the legal department closed from inside using a chain and lock and officers forced open the exit door to gain entry into the office.

Mr Phiri said some employees were found inside the legal department offices after the officers forced open the door to gain entry.

He said during his investigations at PACRO, he talked with company registrar Annessie Banda-Bobo, who informed him that the institution was not in possession of the original transfer forms between Zambezi Portland Cement Finsbury Investments.

The matter comes up on March 15, 2010 for cross-examination.