The Lusaka Magistrate Court has acquitted Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Ronald Chitotela in a case in which he was jointly charged with three others for concealing property suspected to be proceeds of crime.
Magistrate David Simusamba yesterday set Mr Chitotela and his co-accused free on grounds that the state failed to prove the case against them.
In the last court session, an Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) investigator had admitted that there was no evidence directly linking the Minister to the US$300, 00 which was allegedly used to purchase two properties he was accused of concealing.
This is in a matter in which Mr Chitotela, Gregory Chibanga, Diris Mukange and Brut Holdings Limited are facing charges of concealing and possessing property suspected to be proceeds of crime.
He was facing two counts of concealing properties in Makeni and Ibex Hill areas.
Magistrate Simusamba was scheduled to give his ruling on 8th July but adjourned the case to 11th July because the ruling was not yet ready.
Meanwhile, Mr Chitotela who broke down when his ruling was passed thanked President Edgar Lungu, PF members and others who stood by him during trial.