Zambia's former First Lady, Esther Lungu, has been arrested in connection with a property-related matter and alleged money laundering offenses.

Zambia's former First Lady, Esther Lungu, was arrested on Wednesday by the country's Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) and charged with possession of property that is reasonably suspected to be the proceeds of crime, as well as money laundering offenses.

Allan Tamba, the DEC spokesperson, stated that these charges are part of ongoing investigations into her ownership of multiple properties. "Mrs. Esther Lungu has since been released on police bond pending court proceedings," Tamba mentioned in a statement issued from the capital, Lusaka.

Her lawyer, Charles Changano, also confirmed the arrest to Anadolu, detailing that one of the charges relates to a property owned by Lungu in a Lusaka suburb. The second charge involves money laundering, specifically for hiring a third party, which Lungu has denied.

Changano noted, "She has been granted an extended bond, and we have been informed that we may be called again, as this matter is under ongoing investigation." This statement followed Lungu's questioning in Lusaka.