TWO civil servants accused of concealing the famous 48 houses and other properties totalling 51, have been found with a case to answer in a matter the duo is charged with concealment and possession of property suspected to be proceeds of crime.
Magistrate Faides Hamaundu, sitting before an Economic and Financial Crimes Court, found Charles Loyana and his wife Susan Sinkala with a case to answer after establishing that the prosecution established a prema facie case against the accused persons.
After finding them with a case to answer, the magistrate placed them on their defence and set December 14, 2022, as date for opening of their defence to exonerate themselves from the allegations.
Loyana, a senior accountant in the Ministry of Finance, and his wife, Susan Sinkala, an assistant Accountant at the Ministry of Works and Supply are accused of concealment and possession of property suspected to be proceeds of crime.
Particulars are that between January 1, 2012 and June 30 2019, Loyana and Sinkala, while working with other unknown people, concealed 51properties valued K37,916,000, properties reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime
In the second count, allegations are that between January 1, 2012 and June 30 2019, the couple, while acting with other unknown people, did possess 51 properties valued K 37,916,000, properties reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime.
When the two first appeared in court early this year, they pleaded not guilty to the charges and the state called 16 witnesses to testify against them.
After the prosecution closed its case yesterday, magistrate Hamaundu said from the evidence adduced so far, a prema facie case had been established against the accused persons.
A prima facie case is an early screen for a court to determine whether the prosecution can go forward to try the defendant fully for the crime.
