Lutepo to pay K50million bail bond
Businessperson Oswald Lutepo will have to pay K50 million (US$125 000) in cash for him to be released on bail.
Lutepo is alleged to be involved in the Capital Hill Cashgate scam. The K50 million bail bond is just one of the conditions for his bail in the K2.6billion (US$6.5 million) case.
Making the ruling today at the Zomba High Court, Justice Godfrey Mwase also ordered that Lutepo’s two sureties should each pay K2.5m (US$6 250) cash.
Mwase has also ordered Lutepo to disclose his property in full within 14 days and that he should not sell or dispose of any property without the knowledge of the court.
Lutepo will also have to surrender his travel documents, report to police on Monday and Friday before 3pm every week, not disturb peace or investigations, not leave the country without permission through inter-parties hearing and not leave Blantyre without police knowledge.
Mwase warned defense lawyers in the court to bring applicants to court as some suspects do not take bail conditions seriously.
“In future I will not make pronouncements without the applicant’s presence, they have to hear these conditions themselves,” said Mwase in direct reference to Lutepo’s absence at the court today.
After hearing the bail conditions, lawyer Jai Banda, could only shake his head in disbelief and described the bail conditions as tough.
Banda was tight lipped on whether Lutepo will be out of remand today.
“It’s tough but I have to consult my client on the way forward. As we have to source K50 million for him and K5 million (US$12 500) for the two sureties.
“He will be released when we have met the bail conditions set by the court,” said Banda.
There was total silence in the courtroom after Justice Mwase’s ruling.
Earlier, the prosecution demanded K500 million (US$1.3 million) as bail bond for Lutepo and K5 million each for sureties. But Banda argued that these conditions would be excessive and punishing his client who is innocent until proven guilty.
I think the bail bond is too little. The amount that the prosecution was demanding was more reasonable than the one that the court has ruled for. An alleged crime of K2.5Bn only attracting a bail bond of 2% of amount they are accussing him to have misappropriated? Thats a big joke. I remeber in the USA a Malawian lady misapproariated $2.5Mn from her employers. The bail bond was set at $1Mn. K50Mn is a big joke
Jai wapita kwa amayi akamtapira za pa mpango($); a Mwase nanu mukanati $50m aaah maKwachanso?
Lutepo is mostly to get away with a slap on the wrist, he is so well connected. He has been implicated in the more serious case of attempted murder of Mphwiyo but he is only answering charges of money laundering. This is very weak case, considering that this man has a couple of businesses. The case of looting money from treasury is also weak becoz his companies received money without delivering any service. Lutepo is going to claim that he is also a beneficiary of the Cashgate. Since JB is on record to have said that all who benefited from Cashgate are exonerated from blame. That means only those who authorised and facilitated the money transfer are to blame but the rest are Scot free. Like a porn in a game of chess, the story continues…………..
What can one do if one,s vehicle has been trickly stolen by a theif who is protected by a police station commander and defended by a a reputable lawyer, this has happened to me. I have gone through courts to no success. This hapens in malawi the warm heart of africa. The difended and protected theif has so far sold my vehicle to someone else without any document. Can someone advise me what to do? Because of frustration i have written letters to top rank of the government and the highest rankmalawi policei am still waiting for response. Please help.
Lutepo worked hard to earn whatever he currently have. Don’t just accuse him of R2.6Billion…he has more. Don’t be jelousy and write whatever you dream. Work and produce your own. Don’t just accuse Lutepo. A Malawi nsanje basi…..! He is innocent until proven guilty. The bail conditions are excessive and all this because he has companies. The judge has been unreasonable.