Cashgate: Senzani pleads guilty, awaits sentencing on Sept 15
The High Court in Lilongwe on Thursday found guilty former Malawi Ministry of Tourism principal secretary Treza Namathanga Senzani after she admitted that she, indeed, stole and laundered government funds amounting to K63 million (about $166 000).
Senzani becomes the first major convict in the plunder of billions from government coffers, dubbed Cashgate.
She admitted before Justice Ivy Kamanga that she knowingly got from Malawian taxpayers money, amounting to K63 million, without any intention of giving it back to the government.
After she pleaded guilty to the first count of theft, Kamanga asked her three times to enter plea, perhaps in disbelief that Senzani had pleaded guilty.
“Did you have lawful authority to take the money? When you were taking the money, did you intend to give it back to the Malawi Government?” Kamanga asked, to which Senzani replied: “No, my Lady.”
On the charge of money laundering, Senzani admitted that she had in her possession proceeds of crime amounting to K63 million knowing that it was stolen money.
“When this money was in your possession, did you know it represented stolen money? And you knew this money belonged to the Malawi Government?” Kamanga asked to which Senzani replied in affirmative.
After prosecutor Reyneck Matemba narrated the facts of the case, Kamanga said she had no choice but to find Senzani guilty of the charges levelled against her.
Matemba said ACB investigations in September, 2013 revealed that Senzani on two occasions obtained money from government through her company, Visual Impact, when it had no contract with government.
On August 16 2013, Senzani received K21 897 562.30 (about $60 000) from government which was deposited into the company’s National Bank of Malawi account at Capital City Branch on August 21 then, on August 26, she received a further K41 644 521 (about $109 590) from government which her husband deposited into the company’s account on the same day.
Senzani’s lawyer, Ted Roka, has since applied to the court to release his client on bail, pending sentencing and that the restriction notice on her bank accounts should be lifted.
He said she already gave back to government K2 million and an Area 47 house, title number Bwaila 42/5/258, valued at K61 million (about $160 526).
But Kamanga said vacation of the restriction order was premature.
“The matter is not concluded and the sentencing could include a fine, so the application is dismissed,” she said.
The case has been adjourned to September 15 for submissions on sentencing when the prosecution is expected to propose an appropriate sentence and the defence to respond with mitigating factors.
Wakundende basi,kuba ndalama zathu basi.
Wakundende basi
The only reason she has pleaded guilty is because the money she is being accused of stealing (K63 Million) is just a small fraction of what she actually stole. She knows that she will be sentenced to only less than 5 years in prison after which she will be back to enjoy the remaining millions that govt did not discover.
Clever move for the lady I have to say.
By virtual of being a public servant she committed mandatory. Therefore the sentence attracts a maximum if 12 years imprisonment.
she needs to b punished heavily ndi fiti zimenezo serious 63m kwacha 4 1 person money from nowhere while somewhere people r failing to recieve there salaries/allowances in goodtime eg some officers who dd job during 20 may elections havnt rcvd there money koma ena kuseweresa mamiliyoni shit!!!!!
Ndizochepa zomwe akuvomelazo, zambiri anabisa ku Mulanje pafupi ndi Dyanyama primary xool, anamanga nyumba yandalama zankhani-nkhani
Expect judgement on the last day also for every 30% that Govt cut from poorly paid civil servants which you in turn stole you thief and daughter of the devil. Teachers are now suffering in Chapananga, Marka,Migowi and more remote area for your greedy!!!
Hmm. Just looking at her, I can see that she literally lived off the fat of the land. Sorry, but couldn’t resist the pun!
Anthu akumudzi eni ake andalama akuvutika nzipatalamu kusowa mankhwala pamene mbava ina ndi ana ake akadwala amavaya ku hospa abroad ndalama za anthu osauka. Yehova akukantheni NDITHU!!