Son of former Zambian president sentenced to eight months imprisonment with hard labour for stealing a mobile phone

The son of former Zambian president has been sentenced by a Zambian court to eight months imprisonment with hard labour for stealing a mobile phone.

Frederick Chiluba Jr, the son of former president Frederick Chiluba, was convicted of stealing a Samsung S7 edge, valued at $843, last year.

Chiluba Jr, a retired ZAF officer who graduated in 2014, stole the device from a woman, Brenda Chisha, on 2 September 2017 and traded it for drugs in a notorious slum in Lusaka, the court heard.

Fredrick Chiluba and his mum, the former first lady, after a pass out parade in 2014

His father, Chiluba’s rule in Zambia from 1991 to 2001 was dogged by corruption allegations, leading to his immunity from prosecution being lifted after he left office. He was prosecuted for alleged embezzlement in 2002 but acquitted after a six-year trial.

In 2007, he was convicted of fraud by a London court and ordered to repay $58m (£36m) in embezzled funds, but the ruling was never enforced in Zambia.