Evidence gathering by a London High Court judge in the corruption and theft case against Zambia’s former president Frederick Chiluba would not undermine Zambia’s sovereignity or its courts, a British official said on Tuesday.
Zambian authorities began pursuing the case against Chiluba after he left office and in December sanctioned the London High Court in a bid to recover property he allegedly acquired with stolen public funds and to recover funds in British banks.
Chiluba, who has denied having assets in Britain, Europe or elsewhere as alleged, has charged that the government’s decision undermined the integrity of the Zambia’s judiciary.
British High Commissioner to Zambia, Alistair Harrison on Tuesday said the involvement of the London court would not undermine Zambia’s sovereignty or its courts.
It was normal procedure for a British judge to go out to see evidence that he would not have access to in or from the United Kingdom, he told Deutsche Presse-Agentur.
”It is very useful for a judge in deciding the matter. He just wants to see things for himself and to hear from witnesses he cannot easily reach,” Harrison said.
The action did not amount to a British court sitting in Zamiba but rather a fact gathering trip and all costs would be borne by the British government, he said.
Chiluba has stated that he is not compelled to appear before any foreign court, whether sitting in Zambia or abroad and indicated that he would not co-operate in the case where British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s brother William Blair is one of the
prosecutors.
”Dr Chiluba will not be subjected to British injustice or any foreign jurisdictions over matters relating to the period he was Republican president,” according to a statement released by his office on Tuesday.
”The London High Court is not an international court and its jurisdiction is limited to England and Wales and has no jurisdiction over Zambian matters,” it noted.
Chiluba has accused his successor, Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa of holding a trial against him in the press and of ensuring a hostile and prejudicial environment and public opinion against him.
Mwanawasa announced on Monday that a foreign country had agreed to fund the trial of Chiluba and to fund the sitting costs by the London High Court scheduled to come to Zambia.
Chiluba should not fear appearing before a British court if he was innocent, Mwanawasa was quoted as saying, adding that it was in the former president’s best interests give his side of the story over the allegations of plundering national resources during his 10-year rule.
He said his government feared that if allowed to travel to London, Chiluba would not return to Zambia where he was facing criminal charges, like some of his co-accused who have fled the country.
Chiluba was arrested in 2002 over theft of public funds and abuse of office, and is on trial for six counts of corruption and theft of public funds amounting to $500 000.
Mwanawasa has imposed a travel ban against Chiluba for nearly four years until the end his court trial.
The task force on corruption prosecuting Chiluba’s case has come up with little evidence in court showing Chiluba’s direct involvement in the plunder of national resources since his arrest resulting in growing public skepticism towards government. – Sapa-DPA