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Businessman Sedrick Kasanda has filed a lawsuit against the Attorney-General, contesting the illegal seizure of his Ibex Hill house and other properties.
In the petition before the Economic and Financial Crimes Court, Kasanda contended that the properties seized by the State agency, Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), was legitimately acquired.
He said on August 17, 2023, after a search was conducted at his residence, the State seized the property known as Plot No. 19 Main Street Ibex Hill Lusaka and all those properties situated thereon.
The said seizure was allegedly executed under the Authority of section 15 of the Prohibition and Prevention of Money Laundering Act No. 14 of 2001, citing reasonable grounds to believe that the properties are liable to seizure.
Kasanda is jointly charged with four others for Espionage linked to the gold gate scandal involving over US$5.6 million, at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in August, 2023.
The Petitioner lamented that it was unjust for the State to confiscate his properties based on suspicion and not evidence.
Kasanda is seeking among other reliefs, an order that the seizure of his properties by DEC without him being charged or tried for any wrongdoing related to the Prohibition and Prevention of Money Laundering Act No. 14 of 2001 or the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act No. 35 of 2021, violates his human right to be presumed innocent.
He asked the Court to compel DEC to return all his properties that were seized.
Kasanda is demanding damages for the anguish and pain his family endured and the loss of use of the properties.
He also wants the State to pay him damages for trespass to his property.
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