Former First Lady ESTHER LUNGU loses 15 luxurious Flats

By Hannock Kasama

The Economic and Financial Crimes Court has ordered the forfeiture to the state Former First Lady ESTHER LUNGU’s 15 flats deemed to be proceeds of crime.

This comes on the heels of the application for the seizure of Mrs. LUNGU’s properties which has been filed by Director of Public Prosecutions -DPP- GILBERT PHIRI.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Court has ruled that Mrs. LUNGU has failed to produce evidence that her flats valued at 24 Million Kwacha are not proceeds of crime.

This in on grounds that in non-conviction forfeiture of properties deemed to be Proceeds of crime, the burden of proof is shifted to the interested party other than the state.

The judgment has been delivered in Chambers by Economic and Financial Crimes Judges PIXXIE YANGAILO, VINCENT SILOKA and IAN MABOLOBOLO.

Meanwhile, Speaking to journalists after the verdict Mrs. LUNGU’s Lawyer SAKWIBA SIKOTA confirmed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Court has ruled that Mrs. LUNGU has not laid sufficient evidence that her flats are not tainted.

This is in a matter where the DPP applied for the forfeiture of Mrs. LUNGU’s 15 flats deemed to be proceeds of crime.