Businessperson Osward Lutepo, who has been charged with money laundering in connection with the capital Hill cash-gate, today failed to show up at the High Court sitting in Zomba for his bail application hearing due to an illness, his lawyer told the court.
Lawyer Jai Banda, who has applied for Lutepo’s bail, will have to wait until Thursday to hear the court’s ruling on the application.
Lutepo is currently remanded at Zomba Central Prison and Banda argued that his client’s life is in danger if he stays in prison for long.
The lawyer told Nation Online before the hearing commenced that Lutepo could not attend court because he reportedly purged throughout last night.
When the court convened today, Banda argued that Lutepo handed himself to police, therefore, there was no reason to doubt that he can abscond case hearing.
“The accused has a number of business interests in Malawi and is director of several companies despite owning his own house in Naperi [in Blantyre]. He cannot leave all that,” Banda pleaded with the court.
But the State defence team comprising Pilirani Bangula and Dziko Malunda pleaded with the court not to grant bail. They argued that Lutepo’s case involves theft and money laundering of about K2 000 600 000 which, they said, is a substantial sum of money warranting a sentence of 10 years in prison.
Judge Godfrey Mwase adjourned the hearing to Thursday when he will make his ruling on the matter.
