Police search Kasambara’s house

Police yesterday searched the house of former Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Ralph Kasambara in Lilongwe in connection with the shooting of budget director Paul Mphwiyo.

According to the search warrant signed by Lilongwe chief resident magistrate, police were looking for a vehicle alleged to have been used in the shooting.

Deputy national police spokesperson Kelvin Maigwa confirmed the search yesterday, but said the team from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) did not find the vehicle.

Said Maigwa: “We were following up on reports that the car used in the attempted murder of Mr Mphwiyo was at Kasambara’s house, hence the search. Investigations will continue and we cannot disclose what type of vehicle we are looking for.

“We are also yet to check ownership of the vehicle in question after we verify with the Road Traffic Directorate (RTD). We also will not disclose our next search.”

He said Kasambara was not at home at the time of the search yesterday morning, but that the team found his wife and children.

Maigwa said police also arrested Kasambara’s security guard and charged him with an unrelated charge of obstructing a police officer while on duty because he allegedly blocked the team from proceeding with the search.

But while confirming the search, Kasambara differed with Maigwa on what the police were looking for. He said police were looking for a number plate and not an actual vehicle.

“The search warrant specified on a number plate suspected to have been used by one Pika Manondo. They were not looking for a car. Even results on the warrant show no number plate found, according to my wife who saw it. Call her for the warrant details,” he said.

Asked where he was at the time of the search, Kasambara simply said: “They know exactly where I am. I have been communicating with them on the phone.”

The warrant, issued on October 31st 2013 by the Chief Resident Magistrate’s Court in Lilongwe directed police officers to search for a Mercedes Benz motor vehicle and motor vehicle number plates.

Reads the warrant: “Being articles by or in respect of which the offence of attempted murder contrary to Section 223 of the Penal Code has been committed are according to the reasonable suspicion in within the premises of Mr. Raphael Kasambara, SC, house number 10/456 in Area 10 in the city of Lilongwe.

“This is to authorise and require you to enter upon and search the said premises and, if discovered, to take possession of the said articles and produce the same forthwith before this court returning with an endorsement certifying the manner of its execution.”

Mphwiyo was shot outside his house in Area 43 on the night of September 13th 2013.  Manondo is one of the suspects wanted in connection with the shooting but is at large. He is currently on the International Police (Interpol) list of wanted persons.

Three other suspects McDonald Kumwembwe, Robert Kadzuwa and Dauka Manondo were already arrested.

Mphwiyo’s shooting opened a can of worms on massive looting of public funds at Capital Hill.

He is currently in South Africa where he went for treatment of the gunshot wounds. Four bullets were removed from his body.

Kasambara is one of the senior ministers that President Joyce Banda fired after she dissolved the Cabinet last month.