A LUSAKA couple has denied concealing and being in possession of 51 houses which are suspected to be proceeds of crime in Chalala area.

Charles Loyana, a senior accountant at the Ministry of Finance and his wife Susan, an accountant at the Ministry of Works and Supply, pleaded not guilty before magistrate Faides Hamaundu who sits under the Financial Crimes Court.

This was after Magistrate Hamaundu read out the charges to the accused persons when the matter came up before her for plea on Monday.

Magistrate Hamaundu adjourned the case to May 3 and 6 this year for commencement of trial.

In this matter, the accused are facing two counts of corrupt practices involving concealment and possession of property suspected to be proceeds of crime.

In the first count, the duo, of Chalala area in Lusaka is charged with one count of concealment of property suspected to be proceeds of crime contrary to section 71 (1) of the Forfeiture of Proceeds of Crime Act No. 19 of 2010.

In the second count, the two are charged with one count of possession of property suspected to be proceeds of crime contrary to section 71 (1) of the Forfeiture of Proceeds of Crime Act No. 19 of 2010.

It is alleged that on dates unknown but between January 1, 2012 and June 30, 2019, Loyana and his wife jointly and whilst acting together with others unknown, did conceal and possess 51 properties valued at K37,916,000.00, properties reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime.

The matter was earlier allocated to Lusaka magistrate Judith Chiyaika but she later sent it back to the Chief Resident Magistrate for re-allocation to the Economic and Financial Crimes court.

Meanwhile, before magistrate Nthandose Chabala, the case in which Simon Chitambala is accused of defaming Chawama PF member of parliament Tasila Lungu Mwansa has been adjourned to April 26 to 29 for trial.

Tasila’s lawyer Makebi Zulu informed magistrate Chabala that the complainant was out of the country on duty.