Kasambara moved to Zomba prison
Former Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister Ralph Kasambara has been transferred from Lilongwe to Zomba Central Prison.
Prison spokesperson Evans Phiri
confirmed the transfer of Kasambara in an interview yesterday.
“Yes, he is currently at Zomba Central Prison. He went there on Friday,” said Phiri.
Asked if the transfer is to do with his health problems, Phiri said that was also a consideration, but the main reason was that the prison was close to the High Court.
Kasambara was arrested in Lilongwe on November 8 2013 on suspicion that he played a role in the shooting of budget director Paul Mphwiyo.
Last Tuesday, he went to the High Court in Mzuzu to seek bail, but was rebuffed as the court saw it as judge shopping since the case was already at Lilongwe Court.
The following day, the High Court in Lilongwe reserved Kasambara’s bail ruling to 22nd November 2013.
This was despite the fact that the court was presented with affidavits from prison medical doctor Henry Ndindi and an independent doctor Victor Madhlopa that Kasambara needed specialist treatment either at Mwaiwathu Private Hospital or in South Africa.
A week before Kasambara’s arrest, police searched his house where they were looking for a vehicle alleged to have been used in the shooting of Mphwiyo. They found nothing.
Meanwhile, Malawi Prison Services (MPS) have explained why Kasambara was being kept at Kachere Juvenile Prison which is not for adults.
“He was kept there purely for security reasons,” said Phiri without elaborating.
