Judgement for key cash-gate suspect on Sept 4

The High Court in Zomba has again adjourned to this Friday September, 4, 2015 the money laundering case which businessman Osward Lutepo is answering.

This has been done following the submission by Lutepo.

The state through Director of Public Prosecution Mary Kachale told the court to give Lutepo a maximum sentence of ten years.

“The two counts of money laundering and conspiracy to commit fraud attracts a maximum sentence of ten years and three years respectively,” said Kachale.

Lawyer for Lutepo Osward Mtupila said it is unfair to give such a stiff punishment.

” The court should consider my client because is the first offender, he pleaded guilty and did not benefit from all money he stole from government” Mtupila said.

Zomba High court then ordered Standard Bank to supply all images of bank cheques issued by two Lutepo’s companies to trace ultimate beneficiaries of cash gate money.

Meanwhile, one of the suspects in the shooting of Paul Mphwiyo the ex-budget director has said the former president Joyce Banda should appear in court.

He has become the third person to say that Banda was involved in cashgate.

The looting of public funds at capital hill was revealed following the shooting of Mphwiyo.