Alleged Corruption: Ex-President Lungu’s daughter, Tasila has no known income —State submits

The State contends that Tasila Lungu’s mere mention of her father, former President Edgar Lungu, as having financially assisted her to purchase the farm in Sinda district is not proof enough to conclude that the property was acquired and developed using legitimate funds.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in an affidavit in reply to Tasila’s affidavit in opposition has in fact demanded for her to provide documentation depicting the movement of funds from the former President to herself.

Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) senior investigations officer, Emmanuel Khondwe, submitted that there was cogent evidence that suggested that the property was reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime, thus, should be forfeited to the State.

Khondwe stated that according to investigations carried out, Tasila had no known income prior to the period June 11, 2015, to August 31, 2021.

“That it is crucial for the interested party to provide clear documentation demonstrating the interested party’s father’s involvement and assistance in acquiring and developing the property, along with evidence of his financial contribution,” he argued.

Khondwe added, “that additionally, thorough disclosure of the interested party’s father’s financial sources is necessary to ascertain the legality of the funds so gifted to the interested party which were utilized to acquire and develop the property in question.That this information is crucial for the court to make well informed decisions regarding the legality of the funds and the status of the property under scrutiny,” .

The DPP, Gilbert Phiri, last year, filed an application before the Economic and Financial Crimes Court-High Court division, to forfeit to the State the farm known as property no/2278,in Sinda district, whose estimated value is K13 million.

Tasila challenged the State to prove her guilty of criminally acquiring the farm in Sinda district, which she purchased with financial assistance from her father.

She described the investigations against her by the State agencies such as the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), as deliberate, intentional and malicious following the change of government after the August, 2021 presidential elections.

Khondwe, however, responded that the forfeiture proceedings against the property were not malicious but allegations true, founded and supported by compelling evidence.

“The interested party must demonstrate, in explicit detail, the origin and timelines showing when she came into possession of the funds utilized for the acquisition and development of the property,” he stated.

The state has also denied infringement of Tasila’s constitutional right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Khondwe argued that the forfeiture proceedings were not directed at her but rather at the property itself.

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