LUNGU’S SON DALITSO FORFEITS K24 MILLION WORTH OF ASSETS TO THE STATE

Former President Edgar Lungu’s son, Dalitso Lungu, has forfeited properties valued at more than K24 million to the State after a court ruled that the assets were proceeds of crime.

The forfeited assets include over 69 motor vehicles and 23 parcels of land located in various parts of the country.

In its judgment, the Lusaka High Court’s Economic and Financial Crimes Court disclosed that investigations into Mr. Lungu’s financial affairs revealed failure to comply with Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) tax return requirements, including the submission of nil returns.

The court noted that this suggested Mr. Lungu had no identifiable income from employment or business activities that could lawfully justify the acquisition of the properties.

“The respondent failed to demonstrate any legitimate source of income capable of financing the acquisition of the said assets,” the court stated, adding that the circumstances gave rise to a reasonable suspicion of money laundering and tax evasion.

The court further concluded that the inability to establish lawful sources of income rendered the properties tainted and classified them as proceeds of crime.

As a result, the court ordered that the assets be forfeited to the State, to be applied as the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) may deem fit within the confines of the law.

The non-conviction based forfeiture application was filed by Director of Public Prosecutions Gilbert Phiri.