KAPOKO’S LOVER, ACC TO SETTLE ASSETS SEIZURE OUT OF COURT

By GRACE CHAILE LESOETSA IMPRISONED Henry Kapoko’s former lover Rudo Tukuza Chitengu and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) are in negotiations to have the matter where she wants the Constitutional Court to order the Commission to surrender her assets under its seizure settled out of court. Appearing before Judge Mwila Chitabo, State Counsel, ACC informed the court that the two parties were engaged in an out of court settlement. “My Lord, just to add that the parties are actually in an out of court settlement. So we are hopeful that by the time the next compliance date comes, we would have concluded something,” stated Ms Siamondo. In response, Mr Justice Chitabo encouraged the parties to have the matter settled out of court to cut down on the high costs of litigation.  Ms Chitengu in her petition stated, that in 2003 she was in a relationship with former Ministry of Health Chief Human Resource Development Officer and a child was born from them on August 23, 2007. She said in 2009 when Kapoko was indicted of money laundering, her assets were frozen by the mere fact that she had a child with him.  She wants the notice of seizure dated December 8, 2017 declared null and void. She is seeking a declaration that the assets, goods, items and money listed in the notice of seizure belong to her. She also wants an order for damages for deprivation of the use of the assets, goods, items and money which are the subject of the notice of seizure.  The petitioner wants an order compelling ACC to release all the assets, goods, items and money under the seizure. She alleged that ACC seized her Flat 27 Zambia National building Society Complex (ZNBS), Musonda Ngosa road, Villa Elizabeth in Lusaka. Government bonds   valued at K368,324.65  in account no. 0599502000216 and account no. 0211201001817 with K24, 000 as at April 27,2009 held at Inter Market Banking corporation limited Lusaka. ACC also seized 2,000 Airtel Zambia Plc Shares valued at K48,000 as at June 6 ,2014 and 375,000 Zanaco Plc Shares valued at K112,500 as at June 6, 2014 held at Inter Market Securities limited. The Commission is alleged to have also seized K99, 972.53 in account no. 015011086900 maintained by Ms Chitengu at Standard Chartered, Lusaka main branch among other assets.