State Seizes Crest Lodge Linked to ECL

By Ruth Chayinda

The State has taken over The CREST Lodge in Lusaka’s Ibex Hill area worth over NINE Million Kwacha belonging to a Nurse, CHARLES PHIRI.

This is after the Economic and Financial Crimes Court granted the State an Order of forfeiture of a three storey lodge in its judgment today.

Drug Enforcement Commission -DEC- investigations revealed that Mr. PHIRI’s financial records showed a serious discrepancy between his income as a nurse and his expenditure.

Speaking during a joint press briefing with the DEC, National Prosecution Authority -NPA- Deputy Chief State Advocate CHALI HAMBAYI said Mr. PHIRI in opposing the application for non conviction based forfeiture of the property argued that he had entered into a land use agreement with former President EDGAR LUNGU.

Ms. HAMBAYI said the Economic and Financial Crimes Court after analysing the evidence found that the land use agreement had no legal effect.

She said the Court could not be swayed by mere declarations and posturing as to Mr LUNGU’s or Mr PHIRI’s capacity to construct the said building without reliable and provable evidence of legitimate financial ability.

Ms. HAMBAYI said the assets recoveries are a true testament of the effectiveness of interagency collaboration by DEC and NPA in the fight against financial crimes.

She said the forfeitures mark a significant and unprecedented financial recovery for the state and commitment to fighting financial and economic crimes.