ZAMBIA: Ex-president Frederick Chiluba's wife jailed for corruption, out on bail pending appeal
Record ID:
453879
ZAMBIA: Ex-president Frederick Chiluba's wife jailed for corruption, out on bail pending appeal
- Title: ZAMBIA: Ex-president Frederick Chiluba's wife jailed for corruption, out on bail pending appeal
- Date: 10th March 2009
- Summary: WIFE OF FORMER ZAMBIAN PRESIDENT FREDERICK CHILUBA, REGINA CHILUBA, (IN RED) SINGING AND DANCING WITH OTHER FEMALE PRISONERS IN PRISON COMPOUND
- Embargoed: 25th March 2009 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Zambia
- Country: Zambia
- Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement
- Reuters ID: LVA9PJEZH9HHY8RBDYPBSN5F0ZT0
- Story Text: Regina Chiluba, the wife of former Zambian President Frederick Chiluba is out on bail pending an appeal to Zambia's high court.
A Zambian court on Tuesday (March 3) jailed the wife of former President Frederick Chiluba for corruption, the latest high profile figure sentenced in a crackdown on graft that has won favour with donors.
Regina Chiluba was jailed for three and a half years by a Lusaka magistrate, state radio reported. It was a major blow to the legacy of the ex-leader credited with reintroducing multiparty politics to the southern African country.
ZNBC radio said she had been jailed for receiving 300,000 (U.S.
dollars) from her husband in suspected stolen treasury funds and also property which included houses purchased from treasury funds.
Chiluba has appealed to Zambia's high court and also has the option of going to the supreme court.
"Yes, the bail has been granted so she is free as soon as we meet the bail conditions of two working sureties and a required cash sum of cash 30 million kwacha," said her spokesperson Emmanuel Mwamba.
The former president also faces charges of theft of public funds amounting to 488,000 (US dollars), but denies any wrongdoing.
"What happened to us is very unfair. We as children, you know, we have seen our mother work hard her whole life and then someone should come and tell us that she stole something, maybe that's the law, but we feel hurt," said Mando Mwanza, Chiluba's son.
Western donors and international agencies have praised Zambia's government for tackling corruption in a crackdown introduced by late President Levy Mwanawasa.
Zambia has in the last six years jailed several prominent figures, including senior officials and ministers who served under Chiluba's 10-year administration, which ended in 2001. Chiluba ousted founding President Kenneth Kaunda in 1991 multiparty elections.
Chiluba has consistently accused the authorities of conducting a witch-hunt by prosecuting some cases but choosing to ignore other scandals like the inability of Zambia Airways to continue operations due to corruption.
In a separate case, former Zambia air force commander Sande Kayumba, his business ally Amon Sibande and an ex-senior officer in charge of logistics Andrew Nyirongo, were each sentenced on Tuesday to seven years hard labour for corruption.
They were found guilty on 23 counts of corruption and abuse of office.
Sibande was last week jailed for three years in a separate graft case together with former army commander Geojago Musengule. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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