THE National Prosecution Authority (NPA) and Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) will have a great motivation to head into the weekend for a cold one, which has become scarce due to the loadsheding for concluding a job that has seen the state land a K41.5 million property of 15 double storey building.
These flats located about 6.2 kilometres from Leopards Hill Road, in State lodge area were all under the name of former first lady Esther Nyawa Tembo Lungu.
A once flourishing hub has become a replica of a ghost town – From a distance the self-contained flats look superb but once you approach them, problems can easily be noted starting from the bad paint jobs, some broken windows and cracked floor tiles.
A team of law enforcement officers that took journalist to the sight during the forfeiture, suspect the final touches of the houses were not so neat because the owners were likely in a hurry to complete the project before the 2021 general elections.
The flats, located in State Lodge, Lusaka, were seized following a judgement by the Economic and Financial Crimes Court.
The properties, numbered 9334/1, 9334/2, 9334/3, and 9334/4, were found to be obtained through corrupt means.
This forfeiture was carried out under the Proceeds of Crime Act No. 19 of 2010.
NPA and DEC jointly confirmed the action after taking journalists to the site of the properties.
“Asset forfeiture is a crucial tool in our collective fight against crime. It sends a clear message that ill-goten gains will not be tolerated and that criminals will not benefit from their illegal activities,” NPA spokesperson Chali Hambayi said.
“By seizing and taking over these properties, we are depriving criminals of the fruits of their wrongdoing and redirecting these assets towards lawful and beneficial purposes for society.”
NPA and DEC urged the public vigilant and report any suspicious activities or individuals involved in financial crimes.
“We will continue to work tirelessly to prosecute and rescue assets obtained through illicit means, making it clear that crime should never be beneficial to criminals” said Hambayi
CAPTION PHOTO: NPA spokesperson Chali Hambayi leads a team of DEC officers as they move in to seize former first lady Esther Lungu’s 15 double storey flats forfeited to the state.
Pictures and Story By Moses Makwaya
Kalemba September 28, 2024
 and Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) will have a great motivation to head into the weekend for a cold one, which has become scarce due to the loadsheding for concluding a job that has seen the state land a K41.5 million property of 15 double storey building.){kind=link}