Cashgate suspect gets 7 years imprisonment

The Lilongwe Magistrate Court has sentenced Malawi Congress Party (MCP) deputy director of youth Wyson Dzinyemba Soko to seven years imprisonment with hard labour for the theft and money laundering K40 million (US$85 471) from government.

The offense of theft attracts a maximum five years imprisonment while money laundering attracts a K2 million (US$4 274) fine and 10 years imprisonment.

Senior Resident Magistrate Patrick Chirwa was not lenient in passing sentence saying the three and half years for theft and four years for money laundering would be served consecutively.

Soko’s sentencing is the second highest in the ongoing cashgate trials since they started in February last year.

Chirwa, who last year meted out a nine year sentence to another cashgate suspect Victor Sithole said on passing the sentence, he looked at the nature of the offense and amount involved which he said was stolen from government coffers depriving Malawians of money which could have been used to buy medicines.

“A suspended sentence would not reflect the seriousness of the offense looking at the amount of money involved. Only an immediate custodial sentence is appropriate,” he said.

Chirwa unlike principal secretary Tressa Senzani who pleaded guilty and gave back the K63 million she stole, Soko did not show such remorse.

Meanwhile, the prosecution led by Kamudoni Nyasulu is expected to make an application to recover the K40 million from Soko through other means.