The State yesterday admitted that it had no evidence to prove that the television set found in the custody of second Republican president Chiluba’s wife, Regina was bought by the Government.
State advocate Dennis Simwinga told judge Evans Hamaundu sitting with judges Eddie Sikazwe and Catherine Makungu the only evidence the State had was that the property in question was addressed to State House.
This is in a case in which Regina has appealed against conviction and sentence slapped on her by a magistrate’s court on five counts of failing to explain possession of property suspected to have been stolen or unlawfully obtained.
On the television set that was suspected to have been stolen, Mr Simwinga said it was proved that it belonged to the State because it was addressed to Dr Chiluba on a State House address as head of State.
When asked by Judge Makungu if there was any other proof to show it was State property, he said there was no such evidence except that it was consigned to State House.
When the matter came up yesterday, Mr Simwinga told the court that Regina had given several statements on how she acquired the properties in question.
But the court objected when Mr Simwinga said that Regina had told investigators that she used the money given to her as gifts by Dr Chiluba when buying the properties in question.
At this point Judge Hamaundu questioned Mr Simwinga whether what he was saying was part of the case record in the magistrate’s court to which he denied and only said it was Regina who told the investigators.
“That is hear-say unless that was part of the case record. You can only proceed in that manner if what you are saying was admitted in the trial,” he said.
Mr Simwinga dropped his line of submission and went on to say Regina’s explanation on her possession of the properties did not satisfy the investigators.
But Judge Hamaundu questioned how Regina could be asked to account for the properties to investigating officers instead of the court.
The judge wondered how the prosecution could take Regina to court on the charge of failing to account for property but Mr Simwinga explained that the drafting of the charges was based on a Supreme Court ruling, which said a charge should be properly formatted.
Mr Simwinga, however, said the trial court was on firm ground to hold that Regina’s explanation was not satisfactory because she had given three different versions on how she came in possession of the properties.
He said while Regina had said she got a US$60,000 loan, Nchelenge MP Ben Mwila said that he lent her US$100,000.
He also denied there was duplicity of charges that were slapped on Regina and that after amendments were made, the defence did not object.
Deputy State Chief Advocate Rose Nkhuzwayo said there was no way Regina could have raised more than K1 billion from her businesses to enable her buy the properties.
Ms Nkhuzwayo said there was no evidence to prove Regina was a top businessperson on the Copperbelt and that the trial court was in order to convict her.
She said the State would leave the issue of sentencing to the court.
Judgment has been set for August 30 this year.
[ Times of Zambia ]
Well! this report is completely different from the Post Newspaper’s, I would rather go with whats in the Post,LT is and has always been suspect:-?
LTwhats happening, the headline is glossly misleading.
these vima stories are now boring. If Chiluba was found innocent then everybody else linked to him is innocent. Please stop thrusting the knife any deeper with all this crap~X(
If this not money laundering, what else can it be?. A woman running Kantemba raising 1billion Kwacaha from Kantemba?
LT has shown us its true colours. Very biased!!
you should have got it by now ,its been clear for almost 2 years now that LT could not afford to continue being anti Mpuno.
Its simply a Ndalama issue… the post has money to put where the mouth is as they say , but LT had a choice iether swim with us or sink , with no money on the mouth what do you expect .LT would rather swim….this is simply my point of view not a fact.
however you decide …what do you think .Zambians.
the truth is the only reason why i started reading LT was simply because i could not afford to pay for the online post month after month ..but now its free …yeeeepeeeee.
yes for those who did not know …the POST is once again FREE online
LT stop getting useless/biased stories from times of zamba/daily mail. we only go for sport and advertisements in those two useless papers.
Zambian politics stink!!!!!!!!! Because of these mafacking politicians we live abroad. We want to come back to zed but when you look at how undeveloped the place is, you fell like crying right at the airport. Please don’t even say that its us to develop the place. When we come back no one employs us!!!!!!!!! They say overqualified. So let the overqualified develop European nations and Regina steal from Zambians!!! How can Man kachiikala ka Chilu even steal a TV set. Just buy your own *****. 10 years salary and allowances you couldn’t buy houses? *****s!!!!!!!
if LT put stories that made all u dummies happy, wat the heck wud u blog about then???? This sh*t is to stimulate debate from u clowns, are u that shallow for Petessake????
#9 Dudelove
Is that the way you address your father as well?
@msana wanzili#10,
Thats good. Looks like @Dudelove#9 is venting his skunk bottom towards his own mouth. ppprrrrrrr!!!!!!!!
Yaba you guyz on LT jus make me laugh like pwaa! pwaap! pwaa! pwaaa!
Trust if you feel so low jus visit LT and go thru the comments its Comedy at its best as for LT ahh nikuibalako che we know who they back its very clear.
LT. Would restate the head line given another chance? Are you sure you are serious??
# 10 and 11, spoken like true morons. is that the best come-back u cud dig up?
As per Mulongotis silly statement a couple of months ago, i would advise the GRZ to start renovating prisons or gazette a few houses to serve as prisons befitting former heads of state – we shall definatelty need them post 2011. Its gonna be a sad day indeed!
Mrs. Chiluba, as citizens of Zambia we are behind you at this moment when enemies of state have constantly and without shame continued to harass the former first family with unproved cases of trumped up corruption charges. As the courts clearly suggest that there is no evidence of corrupt practices involved in your case just proves how the enemies of state have been bent out and low to seeing your family harassed. Zambians everywhere are praying for you and soon we will celebrate your acquittal. Stay blessed
#16
Walifulungana, you need help. enough said.
#16 First Lady? It was Vera who was First Lady not Mrs Mwanza. I bet when LPM was alive you are one of those calling Regina Hule
#16…..am speechless…..like totally, dude, and i applaud u coz it takes a lot to render me speechless…