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The Economic and Financial Crimes court has declined to grant a Pakistan national on the Interpol wanted list bail pending trial, stating that he was a flight risk.
Wahdat Hussain is facing trial before the Lusaka Magistrate Court for being in possession of nine luxurious vehicle suspected to be proceeds of crime.
Hussain is also charged with giving false information to a public officer.
The accused is on the Interpol wanted list for human trafficking and money laundering charges in South Africa and Botswana .
He is alleged to have been in possession of eight passport and uses different names.
In a ruling of the court delivered by Justice Ann Malata-Ononuju, it was firmly held that the State would suffer prejudice if the applicant was granted bail pending appeal because he is on Interpol wanted list and that there is evidence he had being evading Zambian and South African laws enforcement agencies.
“It is not in the interest of proper administration of justice that persons accused of crimes within and outside Zambia who further pose a flight to are admitted to bail even in spite of extradition act being in force as argued by counsel for the applicant.
“For the foregoing reasons, we agree with the State that if admitted to bail pending trial, the applicant having been charged with a serious offence is a risk which in itself will interfere with the administration of justice and prejudice the State,” she said.
If found accused of being in possession of property suspected to be proceeds of crime, Hussain faces imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years.
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