By LUCY PHIRI
The Lusaka Magistrate Court has heard that Patriotic Front cadre Francis Muchemwa earned K1.4 million as his gross earnings from June 2015 to August 31, 2021 while he worked for Zesco.
This is in a matter in which Muchemwa, 38, of L/26392/M in Silverest area of Chongwe and two others pleaded not guilty to seven counts of possession of property suspected to be proceeds of crime and failure to comply with the provisions of the Income Tax Act contrary to Section 99 (1) as read with Section 98 of the Income Tax Act Chapter 323 of the Laws of Zambia.
Muchemwa and two others are facing charges of acquiring properties reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime valued at K12 million.
Testifying before Chief Resident Magistrate Dominic Chibwili, Mr Eric Nyumbika, an accountant at Zesco said after some deductions, the accused went away with K502, 000 for the stated period .
During cross examination, the defence team led by lawyer Nkhula Bota asked if the witness knows how many properties and companies the accused owns, his response was in the negative.
Another witness, Ms Mirriam Chitandila Mhango, 45, a Human Resources manager at Zesco submitted the documents showing the time Muchemwa entered into contract with Zesco in June 2015 up to September 2021.
Previously, the court added two accused persons in the names of Altitude Properties and Friltec Zambia Limited to be jointly charged.
And Stanley Kyenda, 43, an Assistant inspector at Patents and Companies Registration Agency said he logged on the computer and discovered that the two companies are registered in Zambia. Trial continues on February 8, 2023.
