EX-DEFENCE CHIEF ACQUITTED OF GRAFT CHARGES

Former Zambia Air Force Commander, Christopher Singogo has been acquitted on charges of abuse of authority of office.

This is matter in which, lieutenant-General Singogo had appealed against a 5-year jail sentence slapped on him by the Lusaka sub-ordinate court.

The lower court had earlier found General Singogo guilty on charges of having abused his authority.

This was in the respective defence wing’s cleaning services contract, which he allegedly arbitrary awarded to a named private company, in which he was a named director.

But the Lusaka high court on Thursday, 28^th July 2011 acquitted him, partly on grounds that he was not a public officer at the time of his arrest and conviction.

The Lusaka high court further noted that the lower court also erred in law in convicting General Singogo and consequently sending him to jail.

Leading a three Judges panel, Ndola high court judge Munalula Lisimba said the lower court did not, also establish whether it was General Singogo, who signed the contract.