THE Lusaka magistrate’s court has put former Labour minister Austin Liato on his defence after the State found him with a case to answer in connection with his alleged burying of K2.1 billion at his Mwembeshi farm.?
However, as the general public was anxiously waiting to hear the reasons that could have led Liato to burying the money in the ground, the former Kaoma Central member of Parliament opted to remain silent and not to call any witness to testify in his matter.?
Yesterday, Lusaka Principal Magistrate, Aridah Chulu, placed Liato on his defence after the prosecution which called six witnesses found Liato with a prima facie case.?
“I have found that the prosecution which called six witnesses in this matter has adduced sufficient evidence to warrant me to put the accused on his defence so that he can answer the charge against him,” said Ms Chulu.
But when Liato was asked what route he would take to defend himself, he said he would remain silent on the matter.
This was after Ms Chulu explained to Liato that there were three ways of defending himself namely; swearing on oath, remaining silent and giving unsworn evidence.
Liato simply said: “Your honour, I choose to remain silent.”On whether he could call any witness, one of Liato’s lawyers, Nelly Mutti from Lukona Chambers, said her client would not call any witness but would rely on the submissions that were made at the no-case-to answer level and supplementary submissions that would be made.
The prosecution would file additional submissions apart from those that were already before court.
Ms Chulu, who ordered Liato to appear for mention on April 20, has given both the prosecution and defence two weeks in which to file their supplementary submissions.
She set May 23, 2011 for judgement.In the matter, Liato is charged with being in possession of property suspected of being proceeds of crime, contrary to the Laws of Zambia.
Particulars of the offence are that on November 24, 2011, Liato did possess and conceal money amounting to K2.1 billion on his Farm Number L. Mpamba 44 in Mwembeshi reasonably suspected of being proceeds of crime.
Meanwhile, the taskforce investigating allegations of fraud, theft and corruption in Northern Province has summoned Mbala Member of Parliament and former permanent secretary, Mwalimu Simfukwe in the ongoing corruption investigations.
Northern Province police commissioner and Taskforce chairperson Mary Chikwanda confirmed the development and said Mr Simfukwe had confirmed that he would appear before the team on Wednesday next week.
In January, police recorded a warn and caution statement from Mr Simfukwe and the police then had sought consent from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) which Mrs Chikwanda said had now been granted.
The taskforce has also summoned suspended principal tutor of Kasama School of Nursing, Ellison Muulu to answer allegations that he stole K51, 750, 934.95 funds belonging to the nursing school.Mr Muulu is also accused of stealing K7.2 million rental incomes for the guest house the nursing school owns.
The taskforce has also summoned two accounts clerks at provincial administration in Northern Province.
The duo, Moses Chitala and Wallace is alleged to have stolen imprest, amounting to K233million by submitting forged receipts when retiring the said imprest.
The misappropriated imprest in question related to K800 million sent to Northern Province to cover the cost of presidential visits by former president Rupiah Banda to Kasama and funds sent to the province for activities related to the funeral of late second Republican president, Frederick Chiluba in 2011.
Silence has become golden..Tell us were that 2.1billion came from??
What belly! normally thieves are of late Chiluba’s stature. The only common thing between the two is that they have beautiful wives and am sure that is what drives them to still in order to sustain their needs
MONEY MATTERS………
Shetani…does not want to tell us about others burying the money,instead has chosen to die alone.Ubuwelewele fye bweka bweka,mulechimona bamukukulu we are following you carefully,professionally.Uyo nao mukukulu waku Kasama school of nsg,alipwa no mwenso sort him out quickly mambala.
Is the Task force still active?
IT WOULDN’T TAKE A LAWYER TO FIND WITH THIS LIATO WITH A CASE TO ANSWER. IN FACT FOR ME HE HAS MANY CASES TO ANSWER. 1) TO ACCOUNT FOR THE SOURCE OF THAT MONEY, 2) KEEPING MONEY OUT OF CIRCULATION, 3) ACCOUNTING FOR HIS SUDDEN WEALTH, 4) ABUSE OF AUTHORITY, ETC. IF LAWYERS FOUND IT DIFFICULT TO FIND THIS MAN WITH CASES TO ANSWER, MAYBE THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD HAVE TRIED EMPLOYING PLUMBERS OR BRICKLAYERS.
take the money away, chapwa! when he is destitute he will speak. The wife should also leave, she is too young to be with a broke dude with a big belly.
Amazing for individuals from the legal profession are keen to represent those who plunder and money launderers openly. There options to recluse oneself from associating with the scams of society. It is with this perception that corruption is encouraged, office abuse is rife and other vices because at the end of the day all wrong doers simply pay a lawyer and argue about the legality of their clients. Lawyers aught to contribute to the strength of the judicial system in the nation. Some lawyers actions and conduct has brought shame to their profession let alone LAZ only seen as a steping ladder to high publi offices as recently experienced.
I do not think Austin Liato’s wife will remain in the marriage if the guy goes to jail for 5 or 7 years.She will leave him, other plunderers will take her away from Liato.
Too bad Mr Austin.
Dollar
In order to ensure that the public gets to know the amount of corruption that our country went through while under the MMD, I would recommend that investigators start waterboarding him right away. I gather that this is not torture, and in the name of doing good, it would be good and proper to get to the root of this mess by Liato and his thug friends.
Am sure even that wife he stole from some poor civil servant who couldn t afford to keep her financialy happy,she s pretty anyway,thats he s only achievement