Chiluba's wife jailed

A court in Zambia on Tuesday sentenced former president Fredrick Chiluba’s wife, Regina Chiluba, to three-and-a-half years in prison for receiving and obtaining stolen state property while Chiluba was leader.

The magistrates’ court in Lusaka found her guilty on five of six counts of fraud relating to property and funds she received from Chiluba while he was president from 1991 to 2001, Emmanuel Mwamba, a spokesperson for the ex-leader told Deutsche Presse-Agentur.

Chiluba (75), who appeared as a witness in the case, had accompanied his wife to Lusaka prison after sentencing, Mwamba said.

Zambia’s president from 1991 to 2002, has himself been accused of siphoning off millions of dollars in state funds. His successor, the late Levy Mwanawasa, launched a crackdown on corruption when he came to office.

A court in London in 2007 found Chiluba guilty of stealing $46-million of public money.

His trial in Zambia has been repeatedly interrupted because of his ill health.

Regina Chiluba, his second wife, was found guilty of receiving three properties in the north-central Copperbelt region and a television set that were acquired using state resources. Mwamba said Regina Chiluba would be appealing the ruling.—Sapa-dpa