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| Zambia's Chiluba guilty of graft | Zambia's Chiluba guilty of graft |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| Zambia's ex-President Frederick Chiluba has been found guilty of stealing $46m (£23m) of public money by a UK court. | Zambia's ex-President Frederick Chiluba has been found guilty of stealing $46m (£23m) of public money by a UK court. |
| The judge said that Zambians should know that when he appeared wearing his trademark designer clothes, they were paid for with stolen money. | The judge said that Zambians should know that when he appeared wearing his trademark designer clothes, they were paid for with stolen money. |
| Mr Chiluba's spokesman told a Zambian newspaper that the ex-leader did not accept the court's jurisdiction. | Mr Chiluba's spokesman told a Zambian newspaper that the ex-leader did not accept the court's jurisdiction. |
| Mr Chiluba was not in the London High Court but the ruling could lead to the seizure of his assets. | Mr Chiluba was not in the London High Court but the ruling could lead to the seizure of his assets. |
| The civil case was brought on behalf of the Zambian attorney general. | The civil case was brought on behalf of the Zambian attorney general. |
| Swiss boutique | Swiss boutique |
| Justice Peter Smith said Mr Chiluba had a global reputation as a "smart and expensive dresser", with his "FJT" monogram on shirts and suits and specially made shoes with high heels. | Justice Peter Smith said Mr Chiluba had a global reputation as a "smart and expensive dresser", with his "FJT" monogram on shirts and suits and specially made shoes with high heels. |
| He officially earned about $100,000 while in power from 1991-2001 and yet he paid an exclusive boutique shop in Switzerland $1.2m. | He officially earned about $100,000 while in power from 1991-2001 and yet he paid an exclusive boutique shop in Switzerland $1.2m. |
| This is an historic victory for the people of Zambia Hilary Benn, UK International Development Secretary | |
| "This was at a time when the vast majority of Zambians were struggling to live on $1 a day and many could not afford more than one meal a day," the judge said. | "This was at a time when the vast majority of Zambians were struggling to live on $1 a day and many could not afford more than one meal a day," the judge said. |
| Two years ago, he was furious when hundreds of his designer suits, shirts and shoes were seized from a warehouse where he had stored them. | Two years ago, he was furious when hundreds of his designer suits, shirts and shoes were seized from a warehouse where he had stored them. |
| "What they have done is to bring my underpants out to the general public," Mr Chiluba told reporters. | "What they have done is to bring my underpants out to the general public," Mr Chiluba told reporters. |
| The UK government backed the Zambian law suit and International Development Secretary Hilary Benn welcomed the court ruling. | |
| "This is an historic victory for the people of Zambia and shows their commitment to bringing those who steal from the state to account ? however powerful they are," he said. | |
| "The money recovered can now be returned to the government of Zambia to be invested in the people?s future ? such as education or clean drinking water for some of the 7m Zambians living in poverty." | |
| Unfit for trial | |
| Before the ruling, Mr Chiluba's spokesman Emmanuel Mwamba told Zambia's The Post newspaper that local courts should handle any prosecutions. | Before the ruling, Mr Chiluba's spokesman Emmanuel Mwamba told Zambia's The Post newspaper that local courts should handle any prosecutions. |
| "Dr Chiluba has refused to recognise the jurisdiction and authority of the London court. He has stated that he will not submit himself to its findings," Mr Mwamba said. | "Dr Chiluba has refused to recognise the jurisdiction and authority of the London court. He has stated that he will not submit himself to its findings," Mr Mwamba said. |
| President Levy Mwanawasa has led a fight against corruptionMr Chiluba laundered the money through two London-based law firms, the judge said. | |
| A Zambian court last year ruled that Mr Chiluba was medically unfit to stand trial on corruption charges. | A Zambian court last year ruled that Mr Chiluba was medically unfit to stand trial on corruption charges. |
| Mr Chiluba, a former trade union leader, ended 31 years of one-party rule when he won the 1991 elections. | Mr Chiluba, a former trade union leader, ended 31 years of one-party rule when he won the 1991 elections. |
| He was defeated in an attempt to change the constitution to let him seek a third term in 2001. | He was defeated in an attempt to change the constitution to let him seek a third term in 2001. |
| His handpicked successor, President Levy Mwanawasa, has been pursuing an anti-corruption drive against Mr Chiluba's former government. | His handpicked successor, President Levy Mwanawasa, has been pursuing an anti-corruption drive against Mr Chiluba's former government. |
| Mr Mwanawasa said that he would grant a presidential pardon to Mr Chiluba if he admitted the allegations of corruption and returned 75% of the cash he allegedly stole. | Mr Mwanawasa said that he would grant a presidential pardon to Mr Chiluba if he admitted the allegations of corruption and returned 75% of the cash he allegedly stole. |