Businessperson and Cashgate suspect Oswald Lutepo on Friday told the Lilongwe Magistrate’s Court that he lied in his testimony on the 9th April against another suspect Victor Sithole.

Sithole is being accused of being found with unexplained large amount of money in September last year that led to discovery of the massive theft of public money out of Treasury.

In the earlier testimony, Lutepo denied claiming the K112 million kwacha found in Sithole’s possession, saying he only did so after being forced by lawyers Ralph Kasambara and Wapona Kita.

But last month, Lutepo wrote to the Attorney General (AG) Kalekeni Kaphale withdrawing his first ‘statement’ claiming that he was forced by former Justice minister Fahad Asani, former Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Bruno Kalemba and special prosecutor on Cashgate cases Kamudoni Nyasulu to write caution statements to implicate Kasambara and Kita.

During yesterday’s court appearance, the Cashgate suspect told the court that he gave Sithole about K130 million and not the K112 million that was found in his possession.

“I would like to agree that I gave K130 million to Mr. Sithole, but the money was meant for the maize business we had,” said Lutepo.

According to Lutepo, it was difficult to confirm that the money he (Sithole) was found in possession of was part of what he had given him.

“I only came to the court to confirm that I was in maize business with Sithole, but not to confirm that the money he was found in possession of was part of the money he is being accused of,” he said.

When he was asked by Nyasulu if he was able to recognise the letter he wrote to the Attorney General and that he was taking full responsibility of the document during his testimony in the Sithole’s case, Lutepo reiterated that whatever statements he has been making in the court all was nothing but a lie.

In an interview just after senior magistrate Patrick Chirwa adjourned the matter to Thursday, Nyasulu said Lutepo had confirmed that he lied under oath and the State will continue with his perjury case.

“In fact, Mr.Lutepo was supposed to be arrested right after testifying,” said Nyasulu

Last month, the court granted Lutepo bail after he was arrested on perjury charges.

Meanwhile, the court insists that Sithole has a case to answer.

Lutepo’s testimony on Friday came as Sithole’s defence team led by Mercy Chijere recalled Lutepo to testify in the case in light of the letter he wrote to Kaphale.