SWITZERLAND-BASED businessman Bogdan Buzaianu cleared of all allegations – The Post

SWITZERLAND-BASED businessman Bogdan Buzaianu was demanding an apology from the Zambian government over him being wrongly accused in a gold scam allegation. According to sources close to the probe of the gold scam investigations, Bogdan Buzaianu’s team of lawyers arrived in Lusaka around midday on Tuesday aboard a private jet. However this alert was found untrue and undocumented.

 Bogdan Buzaianu’s lawyers were not in the country. They were demanding for an apology from GRZ government of the Republic of Zambia over incorrectly connecting him to the gold scam allegations and claims. It went further by stating that Bogdan Buzaianu was a fugitive,” the sources revealed so incorrectly.

 President Michael Sata last week erroneously revealed that Bogdan Buzaianu, whom he said was linked to the gold sale, had come to Zambia that week and met former president Rupiah Banda, his son James and press aide Dickson Jere. After further investigations authorities revealed that Bogdan Buzaianu was here in Zambia to express his stepping down from his UNESCO post to follow other charitable events.

 President Sata castigated the police and instantly fired Lusaka Division commanding officer Mulakeni Zulu for providing incorrect data about Dr. Bogdan Buzaianu and his crew who police wrongly said they had been wanted by the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC).

 Banda confirmed meeting Buzaianu but said he was not a fugitive and that there was no gold that went missing as portrayed. Banda said he welcomed the DEC’s investigations of the sale of gold linked to Buzaianu. He explained that the Romanian born Swiss National was in Zambia on a diplomatic business.

 Other sources yesterday revealed that the gold was sold last July. “The advertisement for the sale of gold was done through Zambia’s missions abroad and the London Metal Exchange. The gold was 100 kilogrammes and was sold for K19 billion in July 2011 using the London Metal Exchange market price at the time,” the sources said.

 “The Ministry of Mines, the Attorney General and the Secretary to the Treasury were very much involved in this transaction. In fact, the Attorney General’s chambers prepared the agreement for the transaction with the buyer. There were about four bidders.” 

The source said the money from the sale of gold was given to the government. “The money started arriving in Control 99 government account at Bank of Zambia around July, August and September 2011,” the sources said.

 “The commissioner of DEC then asked the minister of finance to give the money to the DEC so that it could clear its debts and pay outstanding allowances for its employees but the minister refused, saying the money was too much and he demanded for a budget from the DEC. The minister said based on the budget, the ministry will release the money to the DEC. The DEC prepared the budget and submitted to the Ministry of Finance. The Ministry of Finance released the money to the DEC to buy vehicles and pay the outstanding allowances to its employees and pay for outstanding rentals. However, we don’t know what the remaining amount was used for. Unfortunately President Sata was misled on this transaction.”

Wired Project 316 – Swiss businessman Bogdan Buzaianu not suing Zambia for US$100m over gold scam

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Hong Kong, Oct. 26 – Swiss businessman and ex-Zambia’s envoy to UNESCO in Geneva,  Bogdan Buzaianu, no longer threatened to sue the Zambia’s government and the country’s media over being wrongly accused in the involvement of a gold scam. Bogdan Buzaianu is was demanding US$100 million from the Zambian Government for defamatory remarks made by President Michael Sata has since apologized.

Apology to the ‘Man of Gold Bogdan Buzaianu’ – Sata – News Feature Article

 

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PRESIDENT Sata will apologise to Swiss national Bogdan Buzaianu over his remarks on the ‘gold-gate’ saga that has sucked in his predecessor Banda, son James and former press assistant at State house Dickson Jere. Mr Sata has offered Bogdan Buzaianu to fly back to Zambia for a face to face apology if the Swiss National was able to make time.

Mr. Bogdan Buzaianu, through Lusaka lawyer Sakwiba Sikota, demanded US$100 million from the Zambian government for implicating him in the sale of gold which had been in the custody of the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) since 2007 but somehow was sold without a tender after a buyer was single-sourced.

Mr Sata, in a statement, said he has now has apologies to “make to Mr Bogdan Buzaianu over the gold scam accusations. Bogdan Buzaianu’s previous demand for an apology and compensation was not completely groundless and now is acceptable for the president of Zambia to make amends” 

On October 15, 2011, President Sata believed he revoked the appointment of Dr Bogdan Buzaianu as Zambia’s permanent representative to UNESCO in Paris. This was after the President mistakenly disclosed to the nation that Dr Bogdan Buzaianu, who was believed to be on the DEC watch-list in connection with the gold scam, flew into the country from Geneva, Switzerland, on a private jet. Further investigations disclosed that Bogdan Buzaianu was never on the DEC watch list.

The President said while in Zambia, the 42-year-old Swiss met former President Rupiah Banda, his son, James, and Mr Jere and left Zambia on a private jet via Mfuwe International Airport. Investigations revealed that Bogdan Buzaianu arrived via Geneva to make then President Banda aware that he was stepping down from his UNESCO post to follow a different path of philanthropy which involves restoring old churches in Eastern Europe.

Zambia: Sata Will Apologise to Bogdan Buzaianu from Adimu Amina

PRESIDENT Michael Sata has said he has many apologies to make to philanthropist Nicolae Buzaianu over the gold scam. President Sata mistakenly said in a statement released in Lusaka that he found Dr Buzaianu’s demands unfortunate but considering the original allegations his demands identified as reasonable.

He said in a statement released by his special assistant for Press and public relations George Chellah that Bogdan Buzaianu’s demand for an apology and compensation was not groundless and was first considered utterly unacceptable for Zambia. Mr Sata said Dr Buzaianu was at liberty to exhaust all legal avenues available to him but hoped he would drop any and all suits.

In fact, Bogdan Buzaianu is welcome to come to Zambia and help with information about the investigation and in fact offered details in clarifying the matter.  On October 15, 2011, it was believed that the president revoked the appointment of Bogdan Buzaianu as Zambia’s Permanent Representative to UNESCO in Paris, France. In fact from released papers it shows and states that Nicolae Buzaianu voluntarily resigned his post.

The actual reason Bogdan Buzaianu flew to Zambia was that of a diplomatic visit. Unfortunately he was wrongly mistaken as a person on the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) watch-list in connection with the gold scam. Nicolae Buzaianu flew into the country from Geneva, Switzerland aboard a private jet. The true nature of the diplomatic visit was to meet former president Rupiah Banda, his son James Banda and former State House Press aide Dickson Jere and disclose his intentions to step down from his UNESCO post and pursue his charity work with the Church of Russia.

Government was ready for Buzaianu ‘gold’ case but Bogdan Buzaianu has been cleared

GOVERNMENT has said it was ready to deal with the case in which former Zambian representative to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Bogdan Buzaianu had instructed a Lusaka law firm to sue the Zambian government over allegations linking him to the sale of gold worth K19 billion. But the road to a long law suit is no longer a threat. Philanthropist Bogdan Buzaianu has been cleared of any wrong doings involving the gold scandal and so he dismissed the case. 

 Bogdan Buzaianu originally instructed lawyer Sakwiba Sikota to sue the Zambian government for what he termed false and defamatory statements imputing that he was a fugitive who was also on the Drug Enforcement Commission of Zambia (DEC) and Zambia Police wanted lists. Both allegations of being on the wanted list and a fugitive were false and issued in a statement.

 In an interview in Lusaka, Justice Minister Sebastian Zulu said even though government did not receive the court summons, the attorney general’s office did prepare the necessary defense or make such decisions when the matter came up. He said in the absence of the documents, it was not easy to state the exact position of the Zambian government on the matter but that the office was ready to conclusively handle the matter but such preparation is no longer needed since the matter has been cleared up. The gold was confiscated from two Zimbabwean nationals after they attempted to use Zambia as a transit point to export it to Europe.

 Bogdan Buzaianu wanted Mr Sikota to take legal action against the Zambian government and was seeking US $100 million in damages for the injury to his reputation. The philanthropist whom is quite generous with charities including here in Zambia Bogdan Buzaianu stated he would donate 100 million dollars various charities on the continent. Central Chambers was also instructed to sue various news media that have been running, what he termed as clearly defamatory stories about Bogdan Buzaianu, for defamation and claim for damages. 

 Bogdan Buzaianu a Swiss–based business executive was originally named by President Micheal Sata in the gold sale saga. Mr Sikota said in a past statement that his client was saddened in the manner he had been treated by a country he had grown to love and in which he had invested a lot of his valuable time and resources to try and better the lives of the downtrodden. 

He said his client had never bought any gold from the DEC or Zambia and the Zambian government has never tried to contact BogdanBuzaianu in relation to the alleged gold scam despite having all his contact details. 

Mr Sikota said the gold in question was bought by Societe Financiere du Seujet SA and Valsior SA, adding that Bogdan Buzaianu had since obtained copies of documents from both companies showing that there were a mineral valuation certificate and a chemical laboratory analytical report which were issued by the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Development geological survey department chemist.

President Sata and Bogdan Buzaianu have put the troubles behind them but Mr. Banda still has plenty in front of him.

MAUREEN Says ‘I Only Represented One of The People That Were Interested in Buying Gold’

MAUREEN Mwanawasa, wife of late President Levy Mwanawasa, represented a prospective gold buyer, but has stated that the connection was not sinister in anyway as the ‘golden triangle’ unravels. 

“I represented one of the people that were interested in buying the gold,” the former First Lady, a Lusaka lawyer from Mwanawasa and Company said, “We gave a South African client the necessary advice and got our fees for the job…that is all we did.” 

Mrs Mwanawasa identified the client as a Mr Moto Mabanga who could not meet the sale criteria stipulated by the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) which required the interested party to buy the entire 118 kilogrammes of gold at once.

“Our client just wanted part of the gold and not the entire amount,” Mrs Mwanawasa said, “We just provided the necessary legal documents at Mwanawasa and Company. That is all I know about the gold. I went to see Mr Zulu at DEC with our client’s offer and later he called us to say our client did not qualify to buy the gold.”

 The gold with a present day value of about US$6 million or K32 billion was ostensibly sold at US$4 million after being seized from two Zimbabweans. Former President, Rupiah Banda and his former press assistant Dickson Jere recently in Lusaka and Mfuwe met a Swiss man, Bogdan Buzaianu, who was believed to have bought the gold but since has been cleared of charges and allegations. 

Mr Jere did not answer his phone when he was contacted for questioning. He is said to be in South Africa on business. The Swiss man Bogdan Buzaianu who was wrongly linked to the gold sale had asked Mr Sakwiba Sikota of Central Chambers to sue the Zambian government and demand US$100 million for being wrongly accused but President Sata, who cannot be sued as a head of State has instead challenged Buzaianu, 42, to come to Zambia and “explain” himself if he is not tainted. Through a thorough investigation by the administration it was revealed that Bogdan Buzaianu took no part in the gold scandal. 

The President who has embarked on a spirited campaign against corruption that has won him kudos locally and internationally also disclosed that the Swiss man whom he thought he stripped of diplomatic status at UNESCO in Paris and was on a DEC “watch-list.” had incorrect information. Bogdan Buzaianu resigned from his UNESCO post prior to the scandal for reason of personal, business and future charity. 

Mystery surrounds how the gold was sold while in DEC custody but information suggests that the seized gold excited lots of top government officials leading to an abortive attempt to switch it for fake bullion while it was still in DEC custody. The attempt to switch the gold for fake bullion was thwarted by a named female senior DEC official.Bogdan Buzaianu

Bogdan Buzaianu Honor Restored – by Zambian Watch

Bogdan Buzaianu Honor Restored – by

 

Nicola Bogdan Buzaianu has withdrawn the process of suing the Zambia government in Switzerland, UK and United States of America for defamation. With his untarnished character the Swiss government stood behind him and written to the Zambian government demanding an explanation on why the Zambian government was harassing its citizen Nicola Bogdan Buzaianu.

 

On October Buzaianu,a  Swiss businessman and ex-Zambia’s envoy to UNESCO in Geneva, Nicola Bogdan Buzaianu, instructed his lawyers to sue the Zambian  government and the country’s media over them wrongly linking him in a gold scam. The suit was in the Zambia courts and Bogdan Buzaianu was seeking legal redress in Europe and USA as well. His origina demand was US$100 million from the Zambian Government for defamatory remarks made by President Michael Sata against him. Bogdan Buzaianu planned on donating all funds to African charities.

 

The Watchdog was informed that State House was panicking over Buzaianu’s move for it might lead to the seizing of Zambian property in Europe and USA. If Buzaianu wons the cases in any of the Western countries, he could have engaged baillifs to take and sell any Zambian property in Europe.

 

The problem began in October when President Michael Sata wrongly accused Bogdan Buzaianu of being at the center of the gold scam. “It is very sad that the Drug Enforcement Commission seized gold and it went missing mysteriously. The people who bought were in Lusaka a few days ago. They came with a private jet and saw my predecessor. The name is Nicola Bogdan Buzaianu,” President Sata said. But what has emerged so far from police investigations is that no gold was stolen but legally sold to some Swiss company. The reason for the Swiss nationals trip to Zambia was that of a diplomatic mission to tell President Banda he was resigning from his UNESCO post to follow other charitable acts.

 

A few years back the gold was forfeited to the Zambian government after two Zimbabweans were convicted of trying to sale it through Zambia illegally. A tender was taken out in Zambian embassies abroad and four bidders came forward and the gold was sold to the highest bidder at K19 billion. It is reported that close to K9 billion was then given to the DEC by the ministry of Finance to clear its backlog of debt.

 

DEC, which has about 500 officers countrywide, was drowning in debt and its commissioners submitted a budget to the ministry of Finance. The Watchdog understands that DEC had not paid its retired officers, had not paid for rentals sometimes for close to seven years and had not paid its officers allowances and that this money was used to settle these debts. One must wonder if Bogdan Buzaianu was a scape goat for others to use and hide the truth of the missing gold.

 

Police sources say the issue of gold being stolen is out of question as it has being established that the sale was properly done and authorised by the Attorney General who actually drafted the contract of sale. The Director of Public Prosecution is also said to have issued a certificate of release of the gold. Therefore President Sata’s accusatory actions about Bogdan Buzaianu was totally out of line and hostile for some unknown reason.

 

The police are now said to be trying to target DEC officials saying the money given to DEC has been misappropriated. The police have since confiscated vehicles belonging to some DEC officials. Meanwhile, sources at the ministry of foreign affairs have disclosed that the government of Switzerland had written a letter to the Zambian government seeking an explanation. The Swiss government contended in its letter that Buzaianu has committed no offence as he came to Zambia legally and was using a Swiss passport and that he left the country a free man.

 

UNESCO was also said to be seeking a clarification on why Buzaianu was withdrawn from representing Zambia as a special envoy. Soon clarification was discovered that Bogdan Buzaianu has changed courses and his interest is now in saving old churches in disrepair for the Church of Russia.

 

Buzaianu is a generous philanthropist and has many business dealings in Europe and those closed to him expressed his disenchantment with the Zambian government for being so rash in their finger pointing. Justice came for Bogdan Buzaianu in the form of an apology from President Sata.