Cashgate: Kasambara gets back vehicles, Court adjourns to Sept 22

Justice Michael Mtambo on Friday ordered the State to release vehicles belonging to the former Malawi Justice minister Ralph Kasambara and businessperson Pika Manondo which were seized on allegations that they were used in the shooting of former budget director Paul Mphwiyo.

Kasambara, Manondo and his brother Dauka, Macdonald Kumwembe and Robert Kadzuwa are accused of conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder of Mphwiyo on September 13 last year.

This comes as Kasambara had pleaded with the court for the release of the two vehicles, a Mercedes Benz, and a Toyota Fortuner belonging to Manondo, arguing that the vehicles could lose their values as they have been in the hands of police for a long time.

Kasambara told the court that there was no reason for the State to continue keeping the vehicles, arguing that the State should take pictures of the two vehicles as they have done with the Toyota Fortuner that belonged to the principal witness, Mphwiyo.

But State prosecutor Enoch Chibwana objected to Kasambara’s plea, arguing that the State could not release the vehicles as they are part of exhibits in the case.

However, Mtambo ruled that the vehicles be released forthwith.

Meanwhile, the court has adjourned to September 22 to 24 for the continuation of Kasambara’s cross-examination of Mphwiyo which he started on Thursday.

The court has also ordered the prosecution to disclose all the documents related to the case to the accused persons.

Chibwana asked the court for an adjournment because his client has been standing in court for the past days which he said was against medical advice.

Mphwiyo said: “I am in extreme pain, I have been standing here the whole day on Friday and the day before that.”

The defence team which comprises John-Gift Mwakhwawa, Wapona Kita and Kasambara welcomed the adjournment proposal.

In his testimony, Mphwiyo said Kasambara and Manondo were on the scene when he was shot, including Macdonald Kumwembe as the gunman who pulled the trigger which had the right side of his jaw debilitated and two bullets still in his body.

Mphwiyo has also alleged that Kasambara was one of several ministers who during his (Mphwiyo’s) tenure as budget director pressurised him to approve payments to companies, the allegation Kasambara has strongly disputed.