Bowman Lusambo rejects, questions ‘special’ court
Written by MRadio on April 8, 2022
By NATION REPORTER
The legal status of the special Economic and Financial crime court has come under fire with Bowman Lusambo requesting that the Lusaka Magistrates Court refer his case to the Lusaka High Court to determine whether or not it is triable in the said court.
Mr Lusambo through his lawyers Jonas Zimba and Makebi Zulu made the submissions before Lusaka Resident Magistrate Faides Hamaundu.
He based his application on article 28 sub article two of the Constitution.
Mr Lusambo also contended that trying his cases is sub judicial and defiant to article 11 clause ‘a’ of the Constitution.
But ACC Acting Senior Legal and Prosecutions Officer Daniel Ngwira described the application by Mr. Lusambo as frivolous and vexatious. The Anti-Corruption Commission objected Mr Lusambo’s application not to be prosecuted in the Economic and Financial Crime Court on matters where he is charged with possession of goods deemed to be proceeds of crime.
This is in a matter where Mr. Lusambo has been charged with 10 counts of allegedly possessing goods deemed to be proceeds of crime and unlawful possession of public goods. Mr. Lusambo has also been slapped with tax evasion charges.Magistrate Hamaundu has reserved April 12, 2022 for ruling on whether or not to refer to the High Court for determination on Mr. Lusambo’s plea not try his case in the Economic and Financial Crime Court.
