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| Zambia to rule on ex-leader case | Zambia to rule on ex-leader case |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Zambian former President Frederick Chiluba is expected to find out later if a two-year-old British judgement against him can be enforced in Zambia. | Zambian former President Frederick Chiluba is expected to find out later if a two-year-old British judgement against him can be enforced in Zambia. |
| In its ruling, the High Court in London ordered Mr Chiluba and 21 others to pay back more than $58m (£38m) it found was defrauded from the Zambian government. | In its ruling, the High Court in London ordered Mr Chiluba and 21 others to pay back more than $58m (£38m) it found was defrauded from the Zambian government. |
| If the High Court in Lusaka settles for the state, Zambia's government will be able to begin recovering the money. | If the High Court in Lusaka settles for the state, Zambia's government will be able to begin recovering the money. |
| The former president says the British court has no jurisdiction in Zambia. | The former president says the British court has no jurisdiction in Zambia. |
| Mr Chiluba - who was president from 1991 to 2002 - is already facing charges of theft and abuse of office, but denies any wrongdoing. | Mr Chiluba - who was president from 1991 to 2002 - is already facing charges of theft and abuse of office, but denies any wrongdoing. |
| His wife, Regina, was jailed for three-and-a-half years in March for receiving stolen state funds. | His wife, Regina, was jailed for three-and-a-half years in March for receiving stolen state funds. |
| 'Racist' | |
| The Zambian state took out the civil suit in London as some of Mr Chiluba's 21 co-accused - former business associates and government officials - are not Zambian citizens and because the case involves property and bank accounts in the UK and Europe. | |
| The state says the UK judgment could and should be enforced in Zambia. | |
| The High Court in London ruled in May 2007 that the former president should pay back $42m (£28m). | |
| Justice Peter Smith said at the time Mr Chiluba was renowned as a "smart and expensive dresser", with his monogrammed shirts, tailored suits and specially made shoes with high heels. | |
| The former bus conductor officially earned about $100,000 (£66,000) while in power but paid an exclusive boutique shop in Switzerland more than a million dollars. | |
| Mr Chiluba has refused to accept the ruling, labelling it "racist" and arguing it had implications for Zambian sovereignty as well as setting a dangerous precedent. | |
| He also said that Zambian laws had no provision to enforce rulings made outside the borders of the country. | |
| The BBC's Musonda Chibamba in the capital, Lusaka, says whichever way the ruling goes it will either send a strong message that Zambia is not subject to foreign judgments or that people committing crimes in foreign countries can still face punishment in Zambia. |