Executive for Bob Diamond firm denies trying to scupper takeover

A senior executive of a company belonging to disgraced financier Bob Diamond has denied knowingly undermining a Zambian banker’s attempts to raise funds for his business. Dr Rajan Mahtani, 75, founded the Finance Bank Zambia (FBZ) in 1986, and grew it over the next three decades into one of the most successful banks in the country. The Zambian tycoon agreed to a takeover by Diamond’s Atlas Mara company because his daughters had no interest in running the firm and he…