Former Zambian president Frederick Chiluba has criticized a British judge who found him guilty of stealing $46 million while he was in office.
In Lusaka Thursday, Mr. Chiluba protested his innocence and called the British judgment "racist." He said the ruling was pre-determined by the British government in collusion with the government of Zambia to "crucify" him.
Last week, a court in London found Chiluba and four of his top aides guilty of conspiracy. Zambia's government sued Chiluba in a London court because the stolen funds passed through British bank accounts.
Chiluba served as Zambia's president from 1991 to 2001.
British Judge Peter Smith said Chiluba took part in two separate conspiracies to steal the government funds.
The judge also criticized Chiluba's spending habits, saying he spent more than $1 million at an expensive Swiss clothing boutique while most Zambians were struggling to live on $1 a day.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
