By Staff Reporter
The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) have taken an ordinary statement from former first lady Esther Lungu during her appearance over the 15 flats suspected to be proceeds of crime, in the interview conducted by DEC boss Mary Chirwa herself, together with two of her senior officials.
And sources have told Daily Revelation that DEC interrogators demanded that former president Edgar Lungu should leave the meeting where his wife was being interrogated, but later allowed him to stay on after his lawyers argued against the move.
Well placed sources in the DEC have told Daily Revelation that the commission demanded to know hen and how Esther acquired the 15 flats, saying in response, she argued that she worked for an NGO for 25 years and that on retirement her husband also served as a minister and president for seven years, arguing that she could not fail to build the 15 flats.
When asked if she could provide the pay slips during her working time, sources said her lawyers argued that it was very difficult for anyone to keep an account of all the pay slips they had acquired during their working life.
Sources said following the interrogations, an ordinary statement was taken from the interrogations. According to sources in the commission, an ordinary statement is different from a warn and caution statement in that whatever the person says would not be used against them in the courts of law but in the latte, whatever someone says during the interrogations is used against them in the courts of law, and that a warn and caution is a precursor for an arrest.
Sources said DEC officials told Esther that they would call her for further interviews again.
And sources also said DEC interrogators wanted Lungu out of the meeting, but his lawyers argued that the two were one and the husband was as much interested in the matter as his wife was and therefore he should be allowed to attend the meeting. Sources said following the back and forth arguments, president Lungu was allowed to sit in and remained quiet throughout.
Sources said Chirwa conducted the interview herself with the help of officials Mukelabai and Kondowe.
Later, DEC spokesperson Kamanga confirmed in a statement that the interview with Esther went well and that an ordinary statement was recorded. He stated that the property remained seized and further investigations are continuing following her explanation.
