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Liato: Zambian Judiciary Is Fair & Independent
Former Labour Minister Austin Liato says the decision by the Lusaka High Court to overturn his conviction over the K 2 billion case shows that the Zambian judiciary is independent.
Mr Liato said the verdict has demonstrated that the Zambian judiciary is fair and independent.
The Magistrate Court had earlier convicted Mr. Liato to two years in jail with hard labour and had his Mwembeshi farm forfeited to the state.
Mr Liato however appealed to the High Court.
The Lusaka High Court today quashed the conviction of Mr Liato for being in possession of over K 2 billion suspected to be proceeds of crime.
High Court Judge Mwiinde Siavapa also ordered that Mr Liato be given back the money and his farm.
Delivering the verdict, Judge Siavapa ruled that the prosecution team did not establish the source of the money to arrive at the decision that the cash was proceeds of crime.
He ruled that the lower court erred to suspect that the money was proceed of a crime on the basis that the money was buried in the ground.
Judge Siavapa said it is not mandatory in Zambia that the money should be kept in the bank.
He also said it was not unusual that people have various ways of keeping lawfully earned money.
Posted by Editor (online)
on December 13, 2013. Filed under LATEST NEWS.
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Mike
December 13, 2013 at 7:39 am
Congrats Liato.
pvcc
December 13, 2013 at 9:15 am
There was no case to convict this man!!! Another case lost.
sorry
December 13, 2013 at 9:33 am
Foolish judgement by the so called leatrned men. Idiots the buryiong of money is an extreem you should have put the ***** to state the source of his funds. only country where if you are leaving beyond your means it is accepted as normal! Animal farm I am sure the three idiots have got a share of the loot.
jojo
December 13, 2013 at 9:36 am
alabane ubwanga bulabomba. this man b4 he was convicted he used to walk without a walking stick (inkonto).but immediately the time he started going to court thats the time we started seeing this man with a walking stick.and yesturday wen the court was delivering the ruling he didnt have the said stick.
muntu
December 13, 2013 at 10:35 am
This aquito ll mean waste of resources and ernege by police tO arrest criminal lik liato and being aquited by court
G
December 13, 2013 at 10:48 am
Just say tht u r forgiven not wht u are trying to tell us.
Liato
December 13, 2013 at 11:33 am
Eifwe twabako. do u thnk i’d barry da whole money 2getha? ishakubosha i barried ku n’ganda kwa mai nini,teyapa nawina, shabwela.Au evn claim compensation 4deformation of my character. Mwawa!!!…..
latinos
December 13, 2013 at 3:11 pm
Kumangiwa ni kwa anthu osauka. Mwa ona manje uyu munthu acoka. With such overwhelming evidence any other man on any other day was totally gone. Judge for yourself.
LIATO
December 13, 2013 at 3:16 pm
WASHAOUT!!
fwala jombo
December 13, 2013 at 3:26 pm
Atase ubuloshi bweka bweka koma uyu mudala ninfiti HOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
666
December 13, 2013 at 4:00 pm
its nt juju bane its corruption.
kalulete
December 13, 2013 at 6:14 pm
both ubuloshi na corruption were on at work on this case
icinshikululwa
December 14, 2013 at 5:05 am
@jojo waumfwika bwino apa; bwekeshapo nakabili; @ ubuloshi!? I want you with the combnation of @666. Mwansekesha bane, landeni bwino tumfwe.
chile1
December 14, 2013 at 9:25 am
Kabiyeni uko ba liato mwempupu mwe,if u had been jailed u’d hav insulted da same judiciary left,ryt and center bt nw dat u hav strangely been acquited u want 2 start showerin praises
Mike
December 14, 2013 at 5:39 pm
But u pipo,there is no evidence that the prosecution brot to prove that the cash in question were proceeds frm crime apart frm it being burried under ground n the gudge says its nt mandatory for one to keep money in a bank account in Zambia. So whats wrong wt hm being acquited?
tonganyoko
December 15, 2013 at 3:14 pm
Foolish judiciary mushroomed by brainless triblists.