Ex-Zambian president's son jailed for corruption

The son of Zambia's former President Rupiah Banda, Andrew, has been sentenced to two years in prison for corruption.

Andrew, 52, was found guilty on one-count charge of soliciting and receiving gratification to facilitate the award of road projects to Fratelli Locci.

Fratelli Locci was an Italian road contractor when Rupiah Banda was president.

The Chief Resident Magistrate, Joshua Banda, in his ruling on Friday, said the prosecution had proved that Andrew corruptly solicited for gratification.

'The prosecution has proved that Andrew Banda, the son to former president, Rupiah Banda, received payments from Fratelli Locci on current and future road projects and contracts in Zambia.

'The prosecution also proved that funds were transferred from AB Logistics, a firm owned by Banda, from Fratelli Locci, the firm owned by Antoneil Locci,' he said.

The former president's son had worked as first secretary at the Zambian mission in Italy in 2010 and later deputy high commissioner to India.

He solicited and agreed to receive gratification from Locci, amounting to two per cent of all road contracts awarded to Fratelli Locci, the magistrate said.

According to the prosecution, Andrew had also threatened Locci that he would not be given any contracts if he did not pay the two per cent.

Magistrate Banda said he had seriously taken into account the mitigation plea, but that a custodial sentence was inescapable.