By 
Patriotic Front (PF) faction vice-president, Given Lubinda, cried tears of joy in Court, after Magistrate Sanford Ngobola, acquitted him of charges of being in possession of property suspected to be proceeds of crime.
Lubinda, known as an outspoken politician failed to speak to the press but shed tears of joy like a man who had been in bondage for a long time, but now able to taste freedom.
In a judgment rendered on Thursday, Magistrate Ngobola said the prosecution had failed to provide satisfactory evidence that Lubinda acquired properties through criminal activities.
“I find that the prosecution has failed to discharge the burden of proving the ingredients of the offence charged in all the four counts for the balance of probabilities and I find the accused not guilty in all the four counts of the offence of being in possession of property suspected of being proceeds of crime. The accused is acquitted accordingly,” he adjudicated.
It was alleged that Lubinda on March 3, 2018, in Lusaka, received US$ 50,000 from China Africa Cotton Limited, property reasonably suspected of being a proceed of crime.
In count two, the PF vice-president was on February 2, 2019 alleged to have received US$100,000 from Qingdao Ruichang Cotton Industrial Company Limited suspected to be proceeds of crime.
Lubinda is in the third count alleged to have received US$80,000 on December 23, 2019 from Qingdao Ruichang Cotton Industrial Company Limited suspected to be proceeds of crime.
And, in the last count, on March 15, 2019, Lubinda was alleged to have disposed of US$50,000 which was suspected to be dirty money to Sunshare Investment as part payment towards the purchase of a plot property no. C1,56 at Kingsland City in Lusaka.
Hiwever, Magistrate Ngobola in his judgement held that the funds which were received by Lubinda in his dollar account was not proceeds of crime.
“On the fourth count, I find that the funds used as part payment towards the purchase of the property at the Kingsland City were a part of the US Dollar credit received in the accused’s US Dollar account from China Africa Cotton Limited and Qingdao Ruichang Cotton Industries Company Limited.
“Having already determined that the funds which were received in the accused’s dollar account were not proceeds of crime, I find that the US$50,000 to Kingsland City as part payment towards the purchase of a property was not tainted property,” he said.
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