Anti-graft agency to appeal acquittal of ex-ministers, Kampyongo, Lusambo

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has announced its intention to appeal the recent acquittals of former Home Affairs Minister, Steven Kampyongo, and former Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo.

Kampyongo was acquitted following a ruling by Economic and Financial Crimes Court Principal Resident Magistrate Sylvia Munyinya.

He and his wife, Wanziya Chirwa, had faced 12 counts of possessing property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime.

While Kampyongo was cleared of all charges, Wanziya was found guilty on five counts and sentenced to three years of simple imprisonment.

ACC Head of Corporate Communications, Timothy Moono, expressed shock at the court’s decision in a statement issued in Lusaka on Sunday.

“Being dissatisfied with the outcome of these two cases, the Commission is currently studying the judgments and will soon launch appeals in the interest of justice,” said Moono.

In a separate case, Bowman Lusambo, former Lusaka Province Minister, was acquitted of three counts of attempting to interfere with witnesses.

Lusambo had previously been arrested by the ACC for possession of property suspected to be proceeds of crime.

However, during the trial, it was alleged that he attempted to dissuade three witnesses from testifying.

Lusaka Magistrate, Trevor Kasanda, ruled that the prosecution had failed to prove its case, leading to Lusambo’s acquittal on all charges.

ACC, Moono said, believes that the courts erred in acquitting both accused individuals and would soon outline its grounds for appeal.

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