By Mwaka Ndawa
BOWMAN Lusambo has again failed to take plea in a matter where he is facing two counts of corrupt acquisition of public property and three counts of possessing property suspected to be proceeds of crime which he is said to have concealed in his wife’s name.
This is due to failure by the Anti-Corruption Commission seek the Director of Public Prosecutions’ approval to prosecute the matter on time.
The ACC was obtaining consent from the DPP whilst the proceedings were ongoing.
ACC prosecutor Martin Mayembe told magistrate Faidess Hamaundu that the issuance of instructions by the DPP was underway and requested that the matter be adjourned to next month.
“The matter was scheduled for plea and commencement of trial. Consent is being issued now. I was in touch with officers from the DPP’s office, I seek that the matter be adjourned to a later date,” said Mayembe.
Magistrate Hamaundu adjourned the matter to April 6.
The ACC could also not jointly charge Lusambo with his wife Nancy Manase.
It is alleged in the first count that Lusambo between May 1, 2015 and December 31, 2021 unlawfully acquired property No. L/39876/M in Ndola district on the Copperbelt Province in the name of Frontier Management Services Limited and later transferred the same to Jignesh Prafulchandra Soni at a consideration of K880,000 in his own benefit.
In the second count it is alleged that the former Lusaka Province minister between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2018 unlawfully acquired a certificate of title for stand No. MASAI/LN 1003028/218 in Masaiti district on the Copperbelt Province under his name and obtained an exemption from paying K250,000 for the premium land and the property was transferred to Mbachi Nkwazi at a consideration of K150,000, an act prejudicial to the rights and interest of Masaiti Council.
In the third to fifth count, Lusambo between September 1, 2021 and October 31, 2021 whilst acting with others unknown allegedly concealed property No. HN 248 valued at US $60,000, property No.HN 282 valued at US $128,000 and property No. HN249 valued at US $60,000 at Silverest Gardens in Chongwe district in his wife’s name Nancy, which were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime.
After leaving court, Nancy hooked her arm through Lusambo’s and the couple walked down the corridors hand in hand.