RB slapped with another count

FORMER president Rupiah Banda has been slapped with another count in a matter in which he is charged with corrupt practices.
This is in a matter in which Mr Banda is charged with concealing gratification of nine light trucks, all valued at over K470, 000 contrary to the law.
When the matter was called up yesterday before Lusaka Principal Magistrate Obister Musukwa, the state applied to have the charge sheet before the court replaced as they had another charge to add.
After Mr Musukwa allowed the application, MR Banda was in the new account charged with corrupt practices by public officer contrary to section 19 (1) section 40 of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Act number 38 of 2010.
It is alleged that Mr Banda on dates unknown but between January 1, 2011 and August 31, 2011 at Lusaka, being a person holding and performing functions of the president of the republic of Zambia, did corruptly receive 10 motor vehicles as gratification from Sogepao Zambia Limited and Sogepao construction and engineering investment limited.
The gratification was an inducement or reward for himself in return of favourable treatment of the companies in their dealings with the government of Zambia to which Banda was head.
In the old count, Mr Banda is charged under section 36 of the ACC Act number 38 of 2010.
Particulars are that the former president between January 1, 2011 and August 30, 2011 received trucks registration numbers FE 538E-20252, FE 649E- 520121, FE 648E-501363, and FE 648E-501111.
Others were FE 63EG-550624, Hino Ranger chassis number FD 2JLB-16068, Toyota Ace BU 212-0104855, and Fuso Fighter number KK 618K-510102 obtained as gratification from Sogecao Zambia Limited, a subsidiary of Anui foreign economic construction company.
Mr Banda’s lawyers later asked the court for an adjournment to enable them study the new indictment and raise preliminary issues as they claimed it was ambiguous as it did not specify the mode of motor vehicles, which Banda was alleged to have received among other things.
Mr Musukwa, who asked both the State and defence to make written submissions by September 10, 2012 on the preliminary issue, set September 16, 2013 as a date for his ruling.