Maravi

Money speaks

Money speaks
By Maluba Jere
Fri 02 Dec. 2011, 14:00 CAT

AUSTIN Liato's relatives yesterday harassed and beat up journalists who went to cover their paymaster at the magistrates' court complex where he appeared over the K2.1 billion uncovered from his farm.

The relatives beat up journalists after Liato who has been granted K50 million cash bail was being led to the holding cells while waiting to be released from police custody. The harassment of journalists happened in full view of police officers who watched helplessly.

Some relatives hurled insults at journalists for taking pictures of their relative.

Post photojournalist Joseph Mwenda, who was the first victim, had his 1D Mark 4 Canon Digital camera broken by the unruly relatives who slapped him in the face and pushed him away from the direction where Liato was coming from. The culprit has since been arrested.

Other journalists who were beaten were Richard Mulonga from Times of Zambia, Mackson Wasamunu from Zambia Daily Mail and Muvi TV managing editor Mabvuto Phiri.

When police officers from Ridgeway Police Post within the magistrates' court arrived, instead of going for the culprits they dragged Mulonga saying they would lock him up.

This insensed the journalists present who offered to be locked up with their colleague, saying he had not committed any offence and wondered why he was being whisked away.

But the officers later explained that they thought Mulonga was the culprit when in fact he was a victim.

At that point, the photojournalists who were beaten were taken to the police post where they lodged in complaints.

Mulonga, Phiri and Wasamunu were all issued with police reports which they went with to the University Teaching Hospital.

Two of Liato's relatives were apprehended by police after being identified on the photos taken by journalists as being among those who harassed the journalists.

And the Press Freedom Committee (PFC) of The Post has condemned the attack on innocent journalists.

PFC executive secretary Leah Kabamba said there was no justification for targeting the journalists, who had found themselves at the court grounds to execute their duty of informing the public.

She described the attacks as barbaric and malicious.

"Journalists do not need anyone's permission to inform the general public on matters of public interest. There is no room for such a barbaric and malicious behaviour in a civilised society like ours," she said.

"This attack renders the safety of journalists at our court grounds vulnerable. We demand the unreserved safety of journalists during their course of duty. This is cardinal if the public is to benefit from the journalistic work."

Kabamba called on law enforcement agencies to ensure safety of journalists was guaranteed at all times.

"We demand deterrent judicial measures that would prevent recurrence of such ugly scenes in our society," said Kabamba.

Earlier, Liato appeared before chief resident magistrate Joshua Banda where he pleaded not guilty to one count of receiving or retaining stolen property contrary to Section 318(1) of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.

It is alleged that on an unknown date but between September 1, 2011 and November 24, 2011 in Lusaka Liato received and or retained money amounting to K2.1 billion knowing or having reasons to believe the same to have been feloniously stolen, taken, extorted, obtained or disposed of.

Liato told magistrate Banda that he understood the charge but denied committing the offence and the court entered a plea of not guilty.

At that point, Liato's lawyer Nelly Mutti applied for bail saying the accused was of fixed abode and that he had availed himself before the police when he was summoned.

Mutti told magistrate Banda that the charge against Liato was bailable and asked the court to exercise its discretion in granting the accused bail.

She submitted that Liato was not feeling well saying he had high blood pressure, adding that the past two days he had been in custody his BP had risen too high.

"Further, the accused will be ready and willing to abide by any reasonable conditions that the court will set in the event that the bail application is granted," Muti submitted.

Another defence lawyer Mutemwa Mutemwa submitted that Liato's passport has been seized meaning his client could not leave the country.

Mutemwa further urged the court to take judicial notice of the fact that Liato was a senior citizen who rose to the position of minister in the previous government and that he should therefore be given a benefit of doubt for the application sought.

In response, Divisions Prosecutions Officer Christopher Kanema said the state had no objection to the application.

However, Kanema said Liato evaded the police adding that if the court was to grant the defence their application for bail, Liato should provide traceable working sureties among other conditions.

But Mutemwa argued that it was not true that Liato evaded the police when he was wanted.

He said his client was in his constituency in Kaoma organising witnesses for his election petition case.

Mutemwa said while he was in Kaoma, Liato fell sick and that that development was brought to the attention of the Task Force and that the Inspector General of Police was subsequently informed.

He told the court that they then agreed on a day when Liato would avail himself to the police.

Mutemwa said the state should not solicit harsh conditions to be attached to the bail just because the money involved was K2.1 billion.

Ruling on the matter, magistrate Banda granted Liato K50 million cash bail with two working sureties with the like sum in their own recognizance.

Magistrate Banda also ordered Liato to surrender his passport to the senior clerk of court.

Trial in the case has been set for January 16, 2012 while mention has been set for December 22, this year.

Labels: AUSTIN LIATO, CORRUPTION

posted by MrK @ 5:41 PM