CID Fraud Squad swoops on Chaota

via CID Fraud Squad swoops on Chaota – The Zimbabwe Independent January 8, 2016

THE Criminal Investigations Department (CID)’s Fraud Squad this week intensified its investigation of Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (Caaz) chief executive officer David Chaota over allegations of abuse of office and corruption at the aviation industry’s regulator.

Wongai Zhangazha

Police are investigating whether Chaota facilitated the awarding of a contract for the supply of stationery, diaries, outdoor advertising, graphic designs and printing to a company called LL Promotions (Pvt) Ltd, where he is a director.
Chaota is listed as one of three LL Promotions directors and his address is given as 1 022 3rd Avenue, Parktown, in the Waterfalls suburb of Harare.

According to sources at Caaz, police interviewed a number of people at the troubled state parastatal including company secretary Joel Masuku, as part of their probe.

The source said: “The CID Fraud Squad this week intensified their investigations and has been interviewing people at Caaz and outside the parastatal.

“One of the people interviewed was the company secretary Masuku.”

“The CID also visited the Registrar of Companies to verify whether Chaota is a director of a company that Caaz entered into contractual arrangements with and the CR14 confirmed that he is actually a director.

“However, police are still trying to verify other allegations,” the source added.

Contacted for comment, Masuku referred questions to Chaota, saying he was not allowed to speak to the press. Efforts to get a comment from Chaota were fruitless as his mobile phone went unanswered.

Police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba confirmed the investigations saying: “Yes we have received information from an informer, who however does not understand that we don’t arrest to investigate, but investigate to arrest.”

In a case which could expose blatant conflict of interest, Caaz entered into contractual arrangements with LL Promotions.

Documents seen by this paper show that due to the arrangement, Caaz, in which Chaota is both CEO and general manager, made a series of payments to LL Promotions, including one for US$9 559 on January 12 2015, for the supply of stationery, diaries, outdoor advertising, graphic designs and printing.

Other payments made to LL Promotions include
US$9 859 on January 21, 2015,
US$13 582,50 on November 27, 2012 and another
US$4 579,88 on December 1, 2011.