Zambia Aiforce (ZAF) officer Dexter Maseka, who was a State witness in the matter where former ZAF Commander Lieutenant General Eric Chimese is accused of concealing property, among other charges, has been dragged to court for allegedly lying to a Lusaka magistrate under oath.

Maseka, a 43-year-old procurement officer of Chamba valley has been charged with one count of Perjury contrary to Section 104 (1) of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.

Particulars of the offence allege that on July 9, 2019 in Lusaka, Maseka gave false information to Magistrate Nsunge Chanda that he knew nothing relating to the alleged Eric Chimese properties situated in Ibex along Twin Palm Road when in fact not.

The matter has been allocated to Lusaka Magistrate Alice Walusiku but Maseka could not take plea as he was not before court.

The matter comes up on August 22, 2019 for plea.

Maseka was a State witness in a matter in which Chimese is charged with abuse of authority and money laundering, whereas his wife Sharon Gray and Chita Lodge Limited managing director James Chungu are charged with money laundering.

In his testimony before magistrate Chanda, Maseka had denied knowing any property belonging to Chimese.

He told the court that on January 7, 2019, he was summoned by officers from the Anti Money Laundering Unit of DEC who were inquiring on the properties owned by Chimese.

Maseka said he told the officers that he did not know of any of Chimese’s properties as he only interacted with him over the construction of a banquet hall at Chamba Valley ZAF Mess.

But another witness, Major Caphas Mudala a squadron pilot at ZAF, had testified that that he supervised construction works for a two-storey building and a gym in Ibex Hill allegedly belonging to Chimese.

He said in 2013, Chimese assigned him to supervise works at the said property.

The witness said as at December 2014, he had worked for Chimese at the property for two years before he went for a ZAF flying course in South Africa and handed over the works to major Maseka.

And Martin Chanda an Electrician testified that he was led to Chimese’s premises, farm number 2303/Q by Col. Dexter Maseka to install the electrical fittings, though he was not paid for the services.