ACC Arrest And Charge Owners Of ‘The 48 Houses’

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) arrested Charles Mukomena Loyana and his wife Susan Sinkala Loyana on Tuesday, and charged the couple with two counts of corrupt practices involving concealment and possession of property suspected to be proceeds of crime. 

ACC spokesperson Queen Chibwe confirmed the arrest in a statement yesterday, and also revealed that the ill-gotten property in question is valued at over K37 million. 

Mrs. Chibwe also elaborated on the charges against Mr. and Mrs. Loyana, of house number 2728, Shatumnu Road, Chalala, Lusaka. 

In the first count, both have been charged with one count of Concealment of Property suspected to be the proceeds of crime contrary to section 71, sub-section 1 of the Forfeiture of Proceeds of Crime Act No. 19, 2010. 

In the second, Chibwe said the pair have been charged with one count of possession of a property suspected to be proceeds of crime. 

She revealed that between 1st January 2012 and 30th June 2019, Mr. Loyana (51), Senior Accountant at the Ministry of Finance and Mrs. Loyana (49), an Assistant Accountant at the Ministry of Works and Supply, jointly possessed and concealed at least 48 properties valued at over K37 million, properties reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime.

It is also suspected that the couple were working with other accomplices, although their identities remain unknown. 

The ACC spokesperson concluded her statement by saying that Mr. and Mrs. Loyana have been released on bond, but will appear in court on 14th December.