COURT STRIPS LUNGU’S SON DALITSO OF K24 MILLION ASSETS OVER PROCEEDS OF CRIME SUSPICIONS .
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu’s son, Dalitso Lungu, has lost properties valued at over K24 million to the State after the Lusaka High Court’s Economic and Financial Crimes Court ruled that the assets were proceeds of crime.
The forfeited properties include more than 69 motor vehicles and 23 pieces of land spread across different parts of the country.
In its judgment, the court revealed that investigations into Mr. Lungu’s financial capacity showed serious non-compliance with Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) tax requirements, including the submission of nil tax returns, an indication that he had no known taxable income from employment or business.
The court further held that Mr. Lungu failed to demonstrate legitimate sources of income capable of financing the acquisition of the properties, leading to a reasonable suspicion that the assets were obtained through illicit activities such as money laundering and tax evasion.
“The court found that the assets were tainted and constituted proceeds of crime,” Diamond TV reported.
As a result, the court ordered that all the properties be forfeited to the State, to be applied as the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) may determine, in accordance with the law.
The application was filed by DPP Gilbert Phiri under the non-conviction based forfeiture framework.