FORMER Labour Minister Austin Liato has been arrested for allegedly diverting two boreholes and two hammer-mills meant for his then Kaoma Central Parliamentary constituency.
The former minister is alleged to have sunk the boreholes at his Mwembeshi farm.
Government Joint Investigations Team yesterday arrested the former minister in the MMD government on two counts of abuse of authority of office.
In the first count, Liato in June 2010 is alleged to have abused his office of authority being Member of Parliament (MP) by facilitating the sinking of two boreholes at his farm when the boreholes were supposed to have been sunk in his constituency.
In the second count Liato between May 14 and 19 2010, did facilitate the diversion of two hammer-mills which were meant for the people of Kaoma District.
The former minister appeared before the investigations team and was interrogated for more than two hours.
He was then driven to Woodlands Police Station where he spent another hour before being released on Police bond with two working sureties.
Liato earlier this year made headlines when a trunk containing K2.1billion was unearthed at his farm in Mwembeshi.
He was later sentenced to two years with hard labour for being in possession of money suspected to be proceeds of a crime. He has since appealed against his conviction and sentence in the High Court.
ico numbala one
Yabaa!!! Namvela chifundo as a christian. Why do they do these things and how many did them? God have mercy! Let them repent.
Let’s beat the thieves at their own game. We can also do it if we want to.
All politicians claim to save the poor. This was good service for people of Kaoma
i thought the farm was seized? just let the man go. there are more important things to concentrate on than just taunting Liato
The new Richard Sakala lol
Same lozi advocating for succession. Rubbish
Liato needs GYM seriously! It wwill come to pass.Am just wondering why the President is appointing ministers from a “corrupt” party?
He has no fine brains left in his part hence the idea of adopting opposition = good governance to prevent good meat given to the dog :d
I really am beginning to actually feel sorry for this chap. Is he really that corrupt or he is just a target? At some point you need to charge the man or let him go, this shot gun throwing of charges and hoping one sticks is beginning to look desperate on the part of the government.
@woman in red, aren’t you the same bufoons who’ve been going about the nonsense that it’s the minority lozi who’ve been pushing for secession why mbundas and nkoyas have been against it. These are the good guys we are told. BA woman in red, Mr Liato biemba is your beloved Mbunda guy. Lastly secession is different from sucession. Liato should be left alone! Kolwestans have already grabbed the farm on which the alleged boreholes were installed!
This boy is real real selfish, no mercy and very bad. While at Zesco as union chairman he abused his authority and got loans that where never repaid. Hope this time around authority will not let him loss.
I see a case of settling old scores. Having said that it should be clear to everyone that crime does not pay. Criminal deeds catch up with the culprit at a later stage.
THAT WHY SUCH CHAPS SHOULDN’T BE BAILED. STEALING FROM THE POOR IS REALLY BAD, SELFISH, GREEDY, AND VERY BAD. I HOPE THE NEW JUDGES WILL SEE THAT THE 2 YEAR SENTENCE WAS TWO SMALL FOR A THIEF OF THAT MAGNITUDE- STEALING FROM THE POOR AND MULTIPLY THE CURRENT SENTENCE BY 10. THE CHAP HAS BEEN DEFRAUDING HIS OWN PROVINCE.
stupid zed laws,why is he on bail,thought he was sentenced over that 2billion?
13 jelitta..
Good observation a convicated given bail, JOKERS. Only cases pending in court of laws can the bail be given.. Not on serious crimes OR found guilty = Bail for what???
It is about time, lock him up this time. A lot of people in Kaoma would have benefited from those communal facilities only to be denied by such a greedy individual.
Crime does not pay.
A borehole should cost around 30million and a hammer mill about 15 to 20million. Am failing to understand Liato’s reasoning. This imbecile inters 2.1Billion Kwachas and goes forth to steal boreholes and hammer mills worth about a 100million. This guy just greedy and does not deserve an ounce of sympathy.
He is probably hiding more money in those boreholes! They should check them out.
This guy is a deadly thief. I blame the Zambian laws, so weak, to have a convicted thief on bail just because he has appealed. And people why is it taking long to hear the appeal, this case should be expedited quickly and put away this idiot.
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