Chitotela freed

The Economic and Financial Crimes Court has discharged former Tourism Minister Ronald Chitotela in a matter in which he was facing two counts of possession of property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime.

Lusaka Magistrate Jennifer Bwalya discharged Mr. Chitotela on the basis that he had entered into a settlement agreement with the Anti-Corruption Commission for the institution not to commence criminal proceedings against him.

Magistrate Bwalya ruled that the immunity given to Mr. Chitotela by the ACC is still in force, hence her decision to discharge him especially because he was charged with the same charges in a matter where a settlement agreement was entered into with the Commission.

She further noted that the said settlement agreement which was produced by the Defence had a signature stamp of the Director General of the ACC and signature stamp of the Lusaka Chief Resident Magistrate.

She observed that in the settlement agreement, the ACC undertook a stance not to conduct criminal proceedings against Mr. Chitotela having satisfied the requirement of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act,with the commission committing not to undertake any criminal proceedings in relation to the two counts.

Magistrate Bwalya said there was no evidence before her to show that the said abiding settlement agreement was set aside through any judicial process or that it was subject to any review of the superior court.

She said based on this, she found the charges against Mr. Chitotela incompetent.

And speaking after being discharged, Mr Chitotela who is Pambashe Member of Parliament stressed the need to respect the rule of law, alleging that the current system is bent on personal persecution.