Chiluba to lose house in graft case

LUSAKA – Zambia’s former President Frederick Chiluba must surrender his house to the government as partial payment on the $58 million he was ordered to pay in a corruption case, the attorney general said on Monday.

British Judge Peter Smith issued the forfeiture order on Monday during a hearing to determine how Chiluba would pay the money that a British court ruled he stole while in power from 1991 to 2001, Attorney General Mumba Malila told state media. “(The court has ordered) that the former president gives up possession of (his house) together with all chattels purchased on December 14 2001 in the sum of $297 580,” Malila said.Judge Smith raised the amount that the ailing former Zambian leader must pay last week from $41 million, the original sum set when the verdict was handed down earlier this year, to account for interest and legal costs.Zambia had brought the civil case against Chiluba in Britain in the hope of recovering properties allegedly purchased with stolen funds in Britain and other European nations.A separate case in Zambia has yet to go to trial.The charges against Chiluba stem from an anti-corruption campaign launched by his successor, President Levy Mwanawasa.Chiluba has said he is the victim of a political witchhunt and can never get a fair trial in Zambia.He has also said that he does not recognise the authority of the British court and would block the registration of its ruling in Zambia.Nampa-Reuters”(The court has ordered) that the former president gives up possession of (his house) together with all chattels purchased on December 14 2001 in the sum of $297 580,” Malila said.Judge Smith raised the amount that the ailing former Zambian leader must pay last week from $41 million, the original sum set when the verdict was handed down earlier this year, to account for interest and legal costs.Zambia had brought the civil case against Chiluba in Britain in the hope of recovering properties allegedly purchased with stolen funds in Britain and other European nations.A separate case in Zambia has yet to go to trial.The charges against Chiluba stem from an anti-corruption campaign launched by his successor, President Levy Mwanawasa.Chiluba has said he is the victim of a political witchhunt and can never get a fair trial in Zambia.He has also said that he does not recognise the authority of the British court and would block the registration of its ruling in Zambia.Nampa-Reuters