LUSAKA, June 1 (Reuters) – Zambia’s police have arrested the
son of former President Rupiah Banda on suspicion of receiving
bribes from an Italian construction company, a police
spokeswoman said on Friday.
The lawyer for Andrew Banda said the arrest is a politically
motivated move from current President Michael Sata, who was
elected in September with pledges to crack down on shady deals
in Africa’s top copper.
“Andrew Banda has been formally arrested and charged for
corrupt practices and being in possession of property suspected
to be proceeds of crime,” police spokeswoman Namukolo Kasumpa
said in a statement.
Lawyer Sakwiba Sikota told Reuters: “It was clear from the
start that this is case of political persecution. The evidence
that will come out in court will vindicate my client”.
In a separate case last month, a court convicted a minister
in the former government of illegally siphoning off 2.1 billion
kwacha ($400,000) and burying the cash on his farm.
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(Reporting by Chris Mfula; Editing by Jon Herskovitz)
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