The Lusaka High Court has dismissed the State’s appeal against the acquittal of acting Patriotic Front president Given Lubinda in a money laundering case. A panel of three High Court judges—Anna-Malata Anonuja, Ian Mabbolobbolo, and Vincent Siloka—sitting as an Economic and Financial Crimes Court, ruled that the appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Gilbert Phiri, lacked merit. They upheld the magistrate’s decision, stating the lower court was on firm ground when it acquitted the former Minister of Justice.
In April 2024, Lusaka magistrate Sanford Ngobola acquitted Lubinda, finding that the prosecution had failed to prove allegations that he possessed over US$280,000 and a house in Kingsland City suspected to be proceeds of crime. Lubinda had been accused of receiving US$50,000 from China Africa Cotton Limited and US$100,000 from Qingdao Ruichang Cotton Industrial Company Limited—funds allegedly linked to crime. He was also charged with acquiring a Kingsland City property worth US$260,000 under similar suspicions.
The magistrate determined that the state failed to prove the money was illicit, noting that a key memorandum of understanding cited by prosecutors was non-existent. The court concluded the funds were part of a legitimate loan facility secured against a property. The DPP appealed, arguing sufficient evidence had been presented to show Lubinda, while serving as Minister of Agriculture, received money from a Chinese company used for the property purchase.
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The DPP also contended the magistrate erred in ruling the funds in Lubinda’s dollar account were not proceeds of crime. After reviewing the case, the High Court panel dismissed the appeal, affirming Lubinda’s acquittal.
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