Former Labour Minister Austin Liato has been handed a two year sentence with hard labour in the K2.1 billion case by a Lusaka Magistrate court.

This is in the matter in which Mr Liato was facing one count of being in possession of property suspected of being proceeds of crime contrary to section one (1) of the forfeiture of proceeds of crime Act number 19 of 2010 of the laws of Zambia.

Principal Magistrate Aridah Chulu handed Mr Liato the jail term when he appeared for judgment this morning.

Magsistrate Chulu has also forfeited the money and Mr Liato’s farm were the money was buried to the State.

In litigation Liato pleaded for leniency from the court stating that he suffers from a heart condition and takes care of a big family.

He becomes the first former senior government official of the MMD facing corruption charges in the courts of law to be convicted.
Mr Liato buried the 2.1 billion Kwacha in two steel trunks under a thick layer of concrete slab in a highly fortified and electronically fitted structure at his farm in Mumbwa.

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