By Memory Bbuku & Hannock Kasama
The Economic and Financial Crimes Court has upheld the four-year prison sentence imposed on former Lusaka Province Minister, BOWMAN LUSAMBO.
Mr. LUSAMBO had appealed against his conviction by Lusaka Resident Magistrate FAIDES HAMAUNDU on corruption-related charges.
Delivering judgment, Judges SUSAN WANJELANI, PIXIE YANGAILO and ANNE ONONUJU ruled that the appellant had not demonstrated that the properties in question were lawfully acquired.
In dismissing the appeal in its entirety, the panel found that the trial court had acted properly in convicting Mr. LUSAMBO of possessing property obtained through stolen funds.
Reading the judgment on behalf of the court, Judge ONONUJU said the evidence clearly showed that the properties were proceeds of crime and that Mr. LUSAMBO had also evaded tax.
The court found that Mr. LUSAMBO did not provide sufficient proof to support his claims that the funds used to acquire the properties came from his business consultancy work and political activities.
On November 8, 2024, Magistrate HAMAUNDU convicted Mr. LUSAMBO on nine of the ten counts, which included corruption, tax evasion and possession of property deemed to be proceeds of crime.
In his appeal, Mr. LUSAMBO contended that the trial court had erred in convicting him and asked the court to set aside the decision and enter an acquittal.
His lawyer, CHARLES CHANGANO, submitted that the prosecution had failed to prove the necessary elements of the offences of possession of stolen property and tax evasion.
