THE Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) says they are studying former health minister Dr Chitalu Chilufya’s demand letter and other documents related to his case.

Dr Chitalu has written to the ACC demanding US$50 million in damages over his “malicious prosecution” failure to which he will take legal action.

Commenting on this in an interview, ACC spokesperson Queen Chibwe said the Commission was studying the documents in order to determine the next course of action.

“Yes, we received it yesterday (Wednesday). We are studying the documents so that we determine the next course of action. We have to look at other details that are in there,” said Chibwe.

Dr Chilufya, who has written through his lawyers from Tutwa Ngulube and Company, said the demand must be met within three days, commencing November 9, failure to which he would take legal action.

The law firm stated that Dr Chilufya demanded that the letter be issued in respect of the criminal proceedings which were maliciously commenced, conducted and carried out in Lusaka where he was arrested and charged on the allegation that he was involved in corrupt practices, when in fact not.

The firm stated that they were aware that the ACC proceeded to issue several statements concerning the said proceedings alleging that their client had been arrested for corrupt practices.

“You may wish to note that our client was arrested for different offences and prosecuted unsuccessfully until he was acquitted by the Lusaka Magistrate Court. Our client has always insisted that he was innocent as was confirmed by the courts when he was acquitted of all allegations. The statements by the commission were carried widely in both local and international media and can still be viewed and read from several internet platforms and websites. For the avoidance of doubt, we refer you to the Google search engine which generates close to 21,000 results upon us conducting a search on the broadcasting of our client’s arrest,” read the letter in parts.

“Our client is a medical doctor of more than 22 years experience, a practitioner of international repute and a globally respected authority, facilitator and advocate of the WHO agenda of better health systems for universal health coverage. He has participated and spoken at various fora under the UN, AU, WHO and many others, he has a clean record and he has never been involved in any of the scandals as alleged by the commission. Our client has had his reputation damaged both local and international as a result of the conduct of the commission and the contumelious desire to undertake malicious prosecution as a result of which he has suffered loss and damage.”