Ex-Zambia minister’s supporters attack newsmen at court hearing

LUSAKA, Thursday

Supporters and relatives of a Zambian ex-minister, who appeared in a Lusaka court in connection with $412,000 found buried at his farm, assaulted four photojournalists after the court session today.

Former Minister of Labour Austin Liato, a trade unionist-cum-politician, at whose farm investigators found Zambian Kwacha 2.1 billion (about $412,000) cash buried underground, pleaded not guilty to a charge of  receiving or retaining stolen property.

Supporters and relatives of Mr Liato confronted photojournalists that were taking photographs of the former minister after Chief Resident Magistrate Joshua Banda released him on a Zambian Kwacha 50 million (about $9, 900) bail.

The pro-Liato mob hurled insults at journalists and beat up Times of Zambia’s Richard Mulonga, Zambia Daily Mail’s Mackson Wasamunu, Muvi Television’s Mabvuto Phiri, The Post’s Joseph Mwenda and police officer, who wanted to pacify the situation.

At least two suspects were apprehended.

During the court procession, prosecutors alleged that between September 1, 2011 and November 24, 2011, Mr Liato received and/or retained about Zambian Kwacha 2.1 billion knowing or having reasons to believe the same to have been feloniously stolen, taken, extorted, obtained or disposed of. Mr Liato denied the charge.

The former minister applied for bail, which was granted to him for about $ 9, 900. The Magistrate ordered Mr Liato to surrender his passport to the court and provide two working sureties.

Magistrate Banda set December 22, 2011 as date for mention and January 16, 2012 for commencement of trial.

A combined team of Zambia Police, Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) and Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) last Thursday raided the farm of Mr Liato – about 45km west of the capital Lusaka – where they found the money in question.

From that day, Mr Liato’s whereabouts had been unknown though his family friends, speaking on condition of anonymity, claimed he was in his homeland of Kaoma in western Zambia.

The former minister surrendered himself to investigators on Tuesday and has been remanded in police custody from then until today when he got the bail.

The source of the buried funds has remained a subject of speculation but the paper-tags on the bunches indicate that it was withdrawn from the central bank - Bank of Zambia (BoZ) - and Zambia National Commercial Bank (Zanaco).

Several ministers from the immediate-past Government are under investigation on various cases but mostly related to funds and campaign materials in the September 20 elections.