The High Court of Zambia has overturned a decision by the Kitwe Subordinate Court for acquitting a taxpayer for the offense of tax evasion, amounting to over K24 million.
The Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) appealed against the acquittal of Liko’s Industries and Logistics Company Limited on 32 counts of false returns and statements contrary to section 43, and evasion of taxation contrary to section 44 of the Value Added Tax Act Chapter 331 of the Laws of Zambia, by the Kitwe Subordinate Court.
ZRA Corporate Communications Manager, Oliver Nzala says, the high court agreed with the state that the evidence on record presented by the Prosecution, demonstrated that the accused furnished various tax invoices to ZRA purporting to show that they had supplied taxable goods to 34 Copperbelt companies when in fact not, and the sole purpose was to evade the payment of K24,069,730.07 to government.
“In overturning the decision of the Subordinate Court in Kitwe, the court observed that the trial court erred in law when it acquitted Kennedy Likomeno and Liko’s Investments and Logistics Company Limited, on the basis that the Prosecution did not prove that the accused persons knowingly and wilfully filed False returns and statements which were false in material particular.
He said that the Court further mentioned that the decision to acquit the accused was perverse and against the weight of evidence, which is beyond reasonable doubt.
Mr. Nzala said that Liko’s Industries and logistics Company limited was found guilty as charged and convicted accordingly.
Angel Kasabo
