Zambia’s former first lady, Esther Lungu, has been arrested on charges of money laundering, her lawyer announced on Friday.

Esther Lungu, 66, was detained on Thursday evening along with her two daughters after being questioned for hours about properties they own in Lusaka.

“The former first lady has been arrested for being found in possession of properties suspected to be proceeds of crime and money laundering charges,” said her lawyer, Makebi Zulu. Esther Lungu has since been released on bail.

The properties in question include a block of flats in Lusaka’s upscale New Kasama district, which were built by her husband, former president Edgar Lungu, 67. The flats had a construction cost of 41 million kwacha ($1.6 million). The anti-drug agency stated that Esther Lungu failed to provide a “reasonable explanation” for how she acquired the flats, suspecting them to be proceeds of crime.

Edgar Lungu served as Zambia’s president from 2015 to 2021, losing the election to current President Hakainde Hichilema. Since his defeat, Edgar Lungu has claimed that he and his family are targets of a political vendetta.

Last year, he announced his return to politics, with plans to run in the 2026 general elections. He has complained about harassment and a shrinking democratic space in Zambia, stating last week that he was “practically under house arrest,” a claim which authorities have denied.

The recent arrest is not the first time Esther Lungu has had issues with the police. Last year, her house was raided over accusations of vehicle theft.