ZAMBIA: Zambia's embattled former president, Mr Frederick Chiluba, was arrested yesterday after a prolonged anti-corruption investigation and charged with stealing nearly $30 million during his decade of misrule.
"He has finally been arrested, charged and bonded (bailed)," Mr Chiluba's defence lawyer, Mr Robert Simeza, said.
President Levy Mwanawasa, who succeeded Mr Chiluba, has started the biggest crackdown on corruption since Zambia gained independence from Britain in 1964, prosecuting Mr Chiluba, several former ministers and senior officials. Mr Simeza said the police had also formally charged the former intelligence chief, Mr Xavier Chungu, and three other former senior treasury officials in the theft of $29.7 million.
Mr Chiluba retired in 2001 after holding office for the maximum two five-year terms.
"They are saying he stole this money from the Ministry of Finance together with the four officials," Mr Simeza said, adding that they were accused of transferring it to a secret account in Britain operated by Mr Chungu.
He said Mr Chiluba faced 48 fresh counts of theft committed during his term as president between 1991 and 2001.
"He feels he will be cleared once and for all. It is not possible for a president to steal money which is being transferred ...to an account for intelligence service operations," Mr Simeza said.