The Lusaka High Court has ruled that properties valued at over ZMW 100 million, deemed to be proceeds of crime, are to be forfeited to the State. This decision comes after the Anti-Corruption Commission’s application for Non-Conviction Based Forfeiture, as per Sections 29 and 31 of the Forfeiture of Proceeds of Crime Act No. 19 of 2012.
The case involved Pittscon Zambia Limited and its directors, who accumulated these assets between 2018 and 2022 through contracts for road maintenance with the Ministry of Local Government and Housing.
The forfeited assets and estimated value include:
•Pittscon Zambia Limited: 10 motor vehicles and construction equipment, valued at over ZMW 7,000,000.
•Emmanuel Sipande: 32 shops in two mini shopping complexes in Libala South, valued at ZMW 13,500,000, and 37 residential units in Kamwala South and Libala South, valued at ZMW 28,300,000, totaling ZMW 41,800,000.
•Peter Malao: 19 residential units in Makeni, valued at ZMW 26,300,000.
Edson Mugala: 16 residential units in Libala South, valued at ZMW 25,800,000.
•Lucky Simbeye: 13 residential units in Kamwala South, valued at ZMW 6,100,000.
The court’s decision, based on the balance of probabilities as stipulated by law, determined that these properties were acquired through illicit means and thus forfeited to the State. Additionally, the directors of Pittscon Zambia Limited and the son of one of the directors have been arrested and charged with 19 counts of possessing properties suspected to be proceeds of crime, in accordance with Section 71 of the Forfeiture of Proceeds of Crime Act No. 19 of 2010.
