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.