Chiluba appears in court
14/08/2007 13:49  - (SA)  

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Lusaka - Zambia's ailing former president Frederick Chiluba on Tuesday briefly appeared in court in a corruption trial that has dragged on since 2003 and been further delayed by his poor health.

Chiluba, 65, arrived at a magistrate's court in the capital, Lusaka, with his wife Regina as dozens of supporters cheered him on after he slowly walked inside.

Chiluba and two others were facing charges of allegedly stealing $500 000 from the state coffers when he led the country for a decade from 1991.

The case could not proceed due to legal technicalities and the magistrate adjourned the trial to Wednesday.

Emmanuel Mwamba, his spokesperson, said: "Chiluba decided to come to court despite his illness than to allow a video link installed at his house."

The judge had ordered that the former leader be tried through a video-link connection in his house if his heart condition remained acute, preventing him from appearing in court.

Mwamba said: "A video-link trial is illegal and Chiluba will not promote illegality."

Chiluba had denied the graft charges and blamed his hand-picked successor President Levy Mwanawasa of trying to destroy his legacy and smear his reputation.

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