The embattled former president of Zambia, Frederick Chiluba, faces a second arrest for a new round of charges after evidence of his possible involvement in a multimillion dollar case of theft from the government surfaced on Friday, police said.
He was first arrested and charged with 65 counts of theft in February, but now police say they have information that may implicate Chiluba and several others in an even more serious case of theft against the state.
Possible new charges would relate to the theft of more than $32- million from government coffers.
Betty Mumba, spokesperson for the task force investigating acts of theft under Chiluba’s administration, said that Chiluba would probably be arrested next month.
Six others are also being investigated for involvement in the theft, the police said.
They were identified as former finance ministry secretary, Stella Chibanda, senior economist Bede Mphande, former spy chief, Xavier Chungu, former secretary to the treasury, Boniface Nonde, former ambassador to the United States, Attan Shansonga and former finance minister, Katele Kalumba.
Chibanda and Mphande were arrested last month for the theft, but were released on bail.
Chiluba is currently facing trial for 65 counts of theft including that of 15 billion kwacha ($3-million) in cash from the Zambia National Commercial Bank in Lusaka.
He has denied the allegations.
The investigation into his conduct while in office was sparked by his own hand-picked successor, Levy Mwanawasa.
Chiluba, a former bus conductor and trade union organiser, was Zambia’s first democratically chosen president. He came to office in 1991 and served two five-year terms.
Zambia is one of the poorest countries in southern Africa. – Sapa-AP