Chinese couple face $200,000 money laundering, gold charges

A Chinese couple, Zhao Yanjing, and Zhao Changson, have appeared before the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court on Monday, facing charges of money laundering involving US$200,000 and 29.9 kilogrammes of gold.

The couple’s defence lawyer, Hudson Talanti, applied for bail, arguing that the offense is bailable and that his clients posed no flight risk.

However, State prosecutor Mwala Museta opposed the bail application, pointing out that the couple are not resident in Zambia and lacked a fixed abode, making them a high risk for fleeing the country.

Museta further argued that surrendering their passports would not necessarily prevent them from escaping, citing past cases where accused individuals had absconded despite surrendering travel documents.

Chief Resident Magistrate Davies Chibwili adjourned the case to August 27 to rule on the bail application.

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