Former Zambia minister jailed over buried US $ 420 million cash

Lusaka, 24 May – (ANA) - A Zambian court has convicted a minister in the former government of illegally siphoning off US $ 420million (2.1 billion kwacha) and burying the cash on his farm, state radio reported today. Former labour minister Austin Liato was arrested in December last year after the discovery of two buried trunks filled with money under a layer of concrete. Magistra Aridah Chulu sentenced Liato to two years with hard labour.

This is the first high-profile graft conviction under President Michael Sata, who was elected in September with pledges to crack down on corruption in Africa's top copper producer.

His government is probing several deals approved by the government of his predecessor, President Rupiah Banda. (ANA)

FA/ANA/24 May 2012-----------