LUSAKA, (Reuters) – Zambian police charged a former labour minister with receiving stolen property after 2.1 billion kwacha ($414,000) was found buried at his farm, in the first high-profile case in a graft crackdown under new President Michael Sata.
A police spokeswoman said Austin Liato was charged after the discovery last week of two buried trunks filled with money under a thick layer of concrete on his farm.
“We have formally charged him with receiving stolen property. He is in our custody and will appear in court tomorrow,” police spokeswoman Elizabeth Kanjela said.
Since his election in September, former opposition leader Sata — in line with his zealous anti-corruption pledges — has opened investigations into several deals approved by the government of his predecessor Rupiah Banda.
