Former Zambia Minister jailed for burying money in his farm

A court in Zambia has convicted a minister in the former government of illegally siphoning off 2.1 billion kwacha and burying the cash on his farm, state radio reported on Thursday.
Former Labour Minister, Austin Liato was arrested in December last year after the discovery of two buried trunks filled with money under a layer of concrete.
2.1 billion kwacha is approximately $420 million.

The Magistrate, Aridah Chulu sentenced Liato to two years with hard labour.

This is the first high-profile graft conviction under President Michael Sata, who was elected in September with pledges to crack down on corruption in Africa’s top copper producer.

His government is probing several deals approved by the government of his predecessor, President Rupiah Banda.

The discovery

A combined team of law enforcement officers in December 2011, unearthed and seized K2.1  billion from former Labour Minister’s farm in Lusaka West.
Officers from the Police, Anti-Corruption Commission and the Drug Enforcement Commission undertook a two hour joint operations to uncover and seize money buried in two trunks at Mr Liato’s farm number 44 in Mwembeshi area. ( Channels TV )