THE herbalist testifying against former First Lady Esther Lungu is on the verge of being prosecuted after she lied in court about the amount of money she received from the niece of former President Edgar Lungu.
A magistrate directed that Mrs Lungu’s lawyers, if they so wish, to file a perjury and contempt of court complaint against Elizabeth Phiri.
While testifying, Ms Phiri had told court that she only received K4, 000 from Catherine Banda, who is former President Edgar Lungu’s niece but a phone recording played in court revealed that she actually received K2million.
This is in a case Mrs Lungu, Catherine and three others, among them police officers, are charged with theft of cars and money laundering involving over K1.5million.
Between August 9, 2021 and September 30, 2022, the five allegedly stole a Mitsubishi canter worth K 320,000 and certificate of title for a house worth K 1,050,000 belonging to Ms Phiri.
The five are also accused of stealing a Toyota Alex worth K110, 000 belonging to Ms Phiri’s daughter.
In her earlier testimony, Ms Phiri, narrated that in 2020, she met Ms Banda who sought herbal services from her for finding a husband and conceiving.
After she delivered the service, the herbalist said Ms Banda paid her K4, 000 in appreciation.
Ms Phiri narrated that she was later picked by armed strangers who took her to Mrs Lungu’s house where the former First Lady demanded that she gives her back money that Catherine gave to her.
And when the case resumed for cross examination yesterday, defence lawyer Makebi Zulu asked Ms Phiri to confirm if she had earlier told the court that Catherine paid her K4, 000 for the services rendered to her to which Ms Phiri admitted.
At this point, the defence played an audio of a phone conversation between Ms Phiri and Mrs Lungu.
In the conversation, Ms Phiri is heard admitting having received K2 million from Catherine which was allegedly stolen from Ms Lungu.
After the audio was played, Mr Zulu then asked Ms Phiri whether “in the audio, you are accepting that you received K2million?”.
In response, Ms Phiri said no and that she only knew of K4, 000.
“Why didn’t you refuse during the phone conversation that it was K4, 000 and not K2million,” Mr Zulu asked the herbalist who responded that “I know about K4, 000, she never gave me K2million at once”.
When the audio was played for the second time, Ms Phiri changed her stance and accepted receiving K2million as heard in the audio.
Mr Zulu then applied that Ms Phiri be cited for perjury(lying to the court) and contempt of court after lying that the only money received was K4,000.
Magistrate Mbuywana Sinvula directed that the defence, if they wish, can file a formal perjury and contempt of court against Ms Phiri.
