A senior police officer told the Lusaka Magistrate’s Court that former First Lady Esther Lungu did not commit any crime in case she is accused of stealing vehicles and a certificate of title.
During cross examination, assistant commissioner of police Charles Hakuwa was asked if he saw any theft committed by the accused to which he said no.
“As the record stands, do you see any theft? defence lawyer Makebi Zulu asked Mr Hakuwa.
In response, Mr Hakuwa said “No, I don’t see any theft”.
He explained that this is so because he had been informed that the issue to do with the cars was a family issue.
In this case, Mrs Lungu, 66, and four others are charged with theft of motor vehicles and theft of certificate of title belong to Elizabeth Phiri.
The other accused are James Phiri, 49, a police officer, Lee Chisulo, 31, also a cop, Kapembwa Lunch and Mrs Lungu’s niece Catherine Banda.
During trial, Mr Hakuwa told court that he once got the alleged stolen cars and took them at Woodlands Police for safe custody.
But he later had the cars released after Mrs Lungu phoned him as asked the the vehicles are handed over because the issue was being handled as a family.
He also told court yesterday that Mrs Elizabeth Phiri’s daughter, Furhana, also confirmed that the purported theft of cars issue was a family matter.
It was initially claimed during trial that Furhana had allegedly been ‘abducted’ for allegedly stealing the vehicles in issue.
“I asked concerned parties to confirm whether Furhana is aware of what was happening and she confirmed that it is a family issue,” Mr Hakuwa said.
The witness earlier also told court that he later learn that there was no case of abduction involving Furhana, as reported by her(Furhana) husband.
Former President Edgar Lungu was in court to offer solidary to his wife.