The Supreme Court has faulted the Anti-Corruption Bureau-ACB for involving the National Crime Agency (NCA) and handcuffing Kezzie Msukwa, the former Minister of Lands.
Msukwa was arrested in December 2021 on corruption allegations related to land deals with Zuneth Sattar.
In his ruling, Justice Frank Kapanda said that the ACB lacked jurisdiction in obtaining evidence from the NCA without going through the office of the Attorney General to arrest Msukwa.
He further criticized the ACB for using handcuffs to arrest Msukwa, who was ill at the time.
Kapanda has therefore ruled that the case involving Msukwa be sent back to the High Court with the condition that evidence from the NCA not be used.
In an interview with MIJ Online, Chimwemwe Kalua, lawyer for Msukwa, concurred with the Supreme Court ruling, saying that if the state wants to continue the case, it must use local evidence.
Kalua added that he will consult with his client regarding potential charges against the government for handcuffing his client while he was bedridden due to illness.
Meanwhile, Bernard Phiri, a state lawyer, admitted the fault of engaging NCA without using the office of the AG but said that the state will proceed with the case using local evidence.
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