The Anti-Corruption Commission ACC says it will appeal the decision of the Magistrates’ Court following a ruling to discharge former Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development in the Patriotic Front Government and current Member of Parliament for Pambashe Constituency, Ronald Chitotela.
Principal Resident Magistrate, Honourable Jennifer Bwalya has today discharged Mr Chitotela from the two counts of possession of property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime which Mr. Chitotela was facing before Court on grounds that the immunity granted to him was still in force arising from the settlement agreement with the Commission.
Speaking in a statement made available to the media, ACC spokesperson Queen Chibwe said the commission is dissatisfied with the court’s decision of holding that the accused person is immune from being prosecuted based on a settlement agreement he signed with the Commission in 2019, it is totally dissatisfied with the decision.
“The Commission believes that the conditions set in the Act under Section 80 were not fulfilled by Hon. Chitotela. The Commission is fully persuaded and eager to appeal this matter so that the issues surrounding section 80 of the Anti-Corruption Act Number 3 of 2012 and the conduct and obligations of the parties in a settlement agreement are fully adjudicated upon,” she said.
