TWO government employees have been charged with concealment and possession of property thought to be the proceeds of crime after being accused of hiding the infamous 48 residences and a total of 51 properties.
Charles Loyana and his wife Susan Sinkala were found to have a case to answer by Magistrate Faides Hamaundu in front of an Economic and Financial Crimes Court after it was determined that the prosecution had built a prima facie case against the defendants.
The magistrate placed them on defense after determining that they had a case to answer and set December 14, 2022, as the deadline for them to present evidence to refute the accusations.
Both Susan Sinkala, an assistant accountant at the Ministry of Works and Supply, and Loyana, a senior accountant at the Ministry of Finance, are charged with concealing and possessing property thought to be the proceeds of crime.
Details reveal that between January 1, 2012, and June 30, 2019, Loyana and Sinkala concealed 51 properties worth K37,916,000 that were reasonably considered to be crime proceeds while collaborating with other unidentified individuals.
According to the second count, the pair allegedly owned 51 properties worth K 37,916,000 between January 1, 2012, and June 30, 2019, while operating with other unidentified individuals, which are reasonably considered to be criminal proceeds.
The state called 16 witnesses to testify against the two when they first appeared in court at the beginning of this year, where they entered a not guilty plea to the accusations.
A prema facie case has been made against the accused, according to magistrate Hamaundu, after the prosecution ended its case yesterday.
A court will use a prima facie case as a preliminary screening tool to evaluate if the prosecution may proceed with a full trial of the defendant for the offense.
