Culled from Allafrica. This is a good day for Zambians and a clear message to would be criminals. No condition is parmanent and they better get their reciepts in order because everything will be accounted for. Please read on. Chiluba Arrested for Theft The Post (Lusaka) February 25, 2003 Posted to the web February 25, 2003 Amos Malupenga, Sheikh Chifuwe And Brighton Phiri Lusaka FORMER president Frederick Chiluba was yesterday arrested for theft of K19 billion from public funds. Police sources disclosed that Chiluba is jointly charged with former intelligence chief Xavier Chungu while on other counts he is jointly charged with former Zambia National Commercial Bank managing director Samuel Musonda, his deputy George Mwambazi, former secretary to the treasury James Mtonga, Ministry of Finance chief economist Bede Mpande and former intelligence deputy director general Yotam Zulu. They are all charged with theft by public servant. Chiluba and Chungu are alleged to have on May 14, 1998 stolen US $50,000 on cheque number 4938, the property of the government of Zambia which came into their possession by virtue of the offices they held. The duo are further alleged to have stolen US $125,000 on cheque number 6119 on June 30, 1998 while on December 22 the same year they are alleged to have stolen US $148,030 cash. This total of US $323,000 (about K1.6 billion), according to police sources, relates to money used to pay for former presidential affairs minister Eric Silwamba and former legal affairs minister Vincent Malambo's houses in Roma township and Kabulonga, respectively who are not charged with him. Chiluba and Chungu are further alleged to have used a total of K335 million from government coffers towards the purchase of Manchinchi Bay in Siavonga on behalf of the late local government minister Bennie Mwiinga. In the other counts, Chiluba is alleged to have stolen a total of K17 billion whilst acting together with Samuel Musonda, Chungu, James Mtonga, George Mwambazi, Bede Mpande and Yotam Zulu and others unknown. And Chiluba was yesterday released on bail after appearing before magistrate Chinyama in the afternoon. This followed his arrest at Woodlands Police Station. Public prosecutor John Katongo, in asking for an adjournment, told the court that Chiluba was appearing alone because the other accused persons who are jointly charged with him were advised to go to court on March 3. Katongo said for that matter, Chiluba's case should just be mentioned as he awaited the consolidation of the indictment next Monday. Chiluba's lawyers - John Sangwa and Robert Simeza immediately applied for bail. Sangwa said the prosecution did not object as long as Chiluba surrendered his passport, which was not a problem. Magistrate Chinyama said there been no objection from the prosecution, he was granting Chiluba a K500 million bail in his own recognisance with two working sureties in the like sum on the same condition. The same conditions applied on the second indictment where Chiluba is jointly charged with seven others. Former information minister Vernon Mwaanga, former science and technology minister Valentine Kayope, Chiluba's personal doctor Dr. Justine Kangwa, his administrative secretary Mikatazo Wakumelo, Emmanuel Mwamba, and former State House deputy minister Edward Chisha signed as sureties for Chiluba. A total of K3 billion for Chiluba and all his sureties can only be paid if he jumps bail. And a source close to Chiluba said charges against Chiluba must be relevant to offences he committed in his personal capacity for personal interests in accordance with the lifting of the immunity. Meanwhile, Chiluba's aunt - Joyce Chatupa Musuka yesterday said they were bitter as a family. Reacting to the arrest of Chiluba, Musuka said family members were disappointed and distressed by the development. "We are disappointed and we are bitter, we have never been told anything," Musuka said. "We are very disappointed and disgusted." Musuka said President Levy Mwanawasa should have had the courtesy to ask Chiluba about his suspicions of plunder of national resources instead of working hard to have him arrested and humiliated. She said President Mwanawasa was only determined to fix Chiluba. "If he finds that our son is not giving him proper answers he could have told the nation that 'I called my brother and this what we discussed and he is not giving me the right things', and then he would have said 'let's take him to the court of law', not the way he has done it," she said. Musuka said the family was terribly shocked at the arrest of Chiluba. "We don't know what crime our son has committed, there is no justice in this country, only one person is ordering people what to do," she said. "He (President Mwanawasa) said this country was going to be of laws and not of men but the way we see it, he is the only one doing everything." Musuka said the only crime Chiluba committed was nominating Mwanawasa to contest the 2001 presidential elections on an MMD ticket. She said the family was bothered that they all campaigned hard for President Mwanawasa who does not seem to show appreciation. "We are so shocked that this is a 'thank you' our son should get from Mwanawasa. We never slept, we were campaigning day and night and he went through," Musuka said. "We are now running around, taking our son in dirty places, is this the justice we should get?" Musuka warned President Mwanawasa against taking Zambians for granted saying they were not idiots and were capable of distinguishing right things from wrong ones. She expressed confidence that "history will repeat itself". Earlier at Chiluba's Kabulonga residence, Nigerian High Commissioner Abironke Adefope paid a courtesy call on him few minutes before the Task Force led by Robert Nyumbu picked him up around 12: 20 hours. Adefope held a 30 minutes private talk with Chiluba before he was driven out to Woodlands Police Station by his lawyer John Sangwa. Others who accompanied Chiluba included his wife Regina, lawyer Robert Simeza, Vernon Mwaanga and some family members. A sizeable crowd gathered at the police station to have a glimpse of Chiluba. Chiluba was formerly arrested after warn and caution statements were recorder from him for about two hours. Soon after his arrest, Chiluba was driven to Chikwa court in a police vehicle. _________________________________________________________________ Add photos to your messages with MSN 8. 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