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FORMER President Rupiah Banda was yesterday (April 14th, 2013) arrested and charged with allegedly receiving nine light trucks valued at KR471,000 as gratification.
Mr Banda was released on police bond in his own recognisance in the sum of KR500,000 and two working sureties.
He also surrendered his passport to investigative wings.
Mr Banda is already facing charges of abuse of authority of office regarding the procurement of oil from Nigeria to the tune of US$2.5 million and is already appearing in court.
The former President appeared in the morning yesterday (April 14th, 2013) before the Government Joint Investigations Team (GJIT) at the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) offices in Lusaka for questioning in the continued cases of alleged corruption during his term of office.
Mr Banda was alleged to have concealed the receipts of the vehicles by having them registered in the names of other people he was believed to have been connected to.
The GJIT charged him with concealing of gratification contrary to section 36 of the Anti-Corruption Act number 38 of 2010.
Mr Banda’s immunity was waived by Parliament during its last sitting to pave the way for investigations after Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba presented the motion to lift the immunity.
GJIT spokesperson Namukolo Kasumpa said Mr Banda was alleged to have received the nine motor vehicles valued at KR471,000 from Sogecao Zambia Limited.
The Zambian company is a subsidiary of Anui Foreign Economic Construction Company, the firm contracted to construct Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola on the Copperbelt.
The transaction was believed to have taken place between January and August, 2011.
Ms Kasumpa said Mr Banda would appear in court on April 30, this year.
“Mr Banda has been formally arrested and charged with concealing gratification involving nine light trucks and he will appear in court on April 30, this year,” she said.
Mr Banda arrived in his motorcade and was ushered in for interrogations that lasted more than 30 minutes.
He is being represented by lawyers Sakwiba Sikota of Central Chambers, Patrick Mvunga of Mvunga and Associates, and Irene Kunda.
A heavy presence of police officers kept guard around the DEC offices as the questioning took place.
Investigators had last month interviewed Mr Banda on issues relating to the Mpundu Trust, Baobab land, and election campaign materials.
