Maravi

Media irks Austin Liato

Media irks Austin Liato
By Chibaula Silwamba and Maluba Jere
Mon 05 Dec. 2011, 14:00 CAT

AUSTIN Liato yesterday said some journalists want to crucify him. And investigators have seized vehicles and farming equipment from Liato's farm in Mwembeshi as part of their ongoing investigations.

In an interview yesterday, Liato accused some journalists of trying to crucify him going by the way they were writing stories concerning his K2.1 bilion.

"It's them journalists who want to crucify me. Let them go ahead," said Liato.
He said he would not discuss the K2.1 billion issue because it was in court but there would be a time when he would openly talk about it.

"I don't want to start talking about it now. I think that my time to talk will come. Let me talk at the right time," he said.

Asked on his political standing now, Liato said he had problems commenting because the matter was in court.

Sources yesterday disclosed that investigators that went to Liato's farm on Wednesday seized a Mercedes Benz car, Mitsubishi Pajero, tractor and two ploughs.
But Liato said those were seized a long time ago.

Zambia Police, Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) and Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) officers dug out K2.1 billion from Liato's farm on November 24, 2011.

When contacted for a comment on Saturday, Lusaka Province police commissioner Charity Katanga said investigations in the matter were on-going.

A source said: "It seems the former minister did not even know the amount underground."
And sources revealed that Liato, one of his named relatives and two unknown people on Thursday night roughed up three workers at the farm, accusing them of having informed the police about the K2.1 billion.

According to sources, Liato's relatives have started a witch-hunt against the five workers - three males and two females - at the farm, accusing them of having leaked the information to the law enforcement agencies about the money being buried underground at the farm.

The relatives allegedly abducted three workers on Thursday night and queried them about the money.

The sources said a combined team of police, ACC and DEC officers that visited Liato's farm was informed that the three workers were picked by people close to Liato.
One of the abducted workers told police that their abductors accused them of having reported the K2.1 billion case to the police.

However, a close family member said the abduction allegatiåçons against Liato were false.

According to a family member, there were no workers that were abducted at the farm.
"If someone can write a story like that, then that is a person who is doing something wrong with somebody," said a close family member.

Labels: AUSTIN LIATO, CORRUPTION, JOURNALISM, MMD

posted by MrK @ 6:46 PM