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By LUCY PHIRI
BARELY four days after the Luanshay Magistrate court jailed Bowman Lusambo to two years with hard labour for unlawful wounding, the Lusaka Resident Magistrate, Faides Hamaundu yesterday sentenced the former Lusaka province Minister to four years imprisonment with hard labor for corruption being in possession of property suspected of being proceeds of crime, tax evasion and conspiracy to defraud.
But Ms Hamaundu acquitted Lusambo in count five of conspiracy to defraud.
Ms. Hamaundu also acquitted Lusambo’s wife Nancy Natasha Manase from count seven to ten in which she was jointly charged with her husband on possession of property suspected of being proceeds of crime.
When rendering judgment yesterday, Lusambo was in high spirit and ready to receive the verdict.
Ms. Hamaundu in her ruling ruled that the state has proved beyond reasonable doubt that Lusambo possessed properties suspected of being proceeds of crime and also invaded tax.
The court found Lusambo guilty and convicted him accordingly.
In mitigation, Lusambo through his lawyers, Mr. Charles Changano and Nkula Botha begged the court to have leniency on him being a first offender.
“No, aggravating circumstances in this case, give him a suspended sentence he’s remorseful, may the court consider that is of age if given a second chance he will not look at his family but the nation at large.The constitution of Zambia warrants him to contest in 2026. The court should not give him custodial sentence. You are a parent mother we seek your mercy,” Mr. Changano said,” he said.
The court has also sentenced Lusambo to a fine of K9, 000 in default to nine months imprisonment in count two, three, four and six and said the sentence should run concurrently.
In the first count, Lusambo between May 10, 2015 and
December 31, 2021, at Ndola of the Copperbelt Province jointly and whilst acting together with other persons unlawfully acquired property number L/39876/M situate at Ndola in the name of Frontier Management Services Limited which property was later conveyed to Jignesh
Prafulchandra Soni at a consideration of K880,000 for his own benefit.
In count seven, Lusambo and Nancy between September 18, 2021 and October 31, 2021 in Chongwe in the Chongwe District in the Lusaka Province jointly and whilst acting together had under his possession of 553.219.18 property reasonably suspected of being proceeds of crime which was used as per payment for property number HT-5B House no. 357 situate at Silverest gardens valued at $130,000.00.
And in the last count, Lusambo and his wife between September 15, 2021 and October 31, 2021 in Chongwe jointly and whilst acting together possessed property number HT: T3-B House no. 249 situate at Silverest gardens valued at $60,000.00 reasonably suspected of being proceeds of crime.
