Zambia’s former intelligence boss Xavier Chungu and three former senior government officials under former president Frederick Chiluba were acquitted on Friday on charges of stealing government vehicles.
Magistrate Bibiane Kearns released the quartet from jail saying the prosecution had failed to prove that they stole four tractors valued at $88 000 dollars when they were in the government.
”The prosecution has failed to prove the case and I, therefore, acquit the accused persons,” Kearns said.
Chungu and his three co-accused were arrested in January on allegations that they stole the tractors belonging to the government but the state failed to prove that the tractors were owned by the government.
”I also grant an application and order the state to give back the tractors to the owners [Chungu and his colleagues],” Kearns said.
Chungu’s three co-accused were his former deputy, Yotam Zulu, former treasury secretary Benne Mweene and former finance permanent secretary Stella Chibanda.
This was the third time that Chungu was acquitted by the courts on various charges of theft, abuse of office and corruption allegedly committed when he headed the intelligence wing for 10 years under Chiluba.
Chungu is also currently facing several charges of corruption and theft of more than $45-million together with Chiluba.
State prosecutor Mutembo Nchito told the court that he will appeal to the High Court against the acquittal of the four. — Sapa-AFP