Sithole ruling on July 10

The Lilongwe Magistrate’s Court will on July 10 decide whether Victor Sithole has a case to answer in a case he has been charged with being found in possession of unexplained large amounts of money.
Sithole has been charged in connection with large amounts of money including K112 million, $31 800 and R122 400 in hard cash which was found at his house in September last year leading to revelations of theft of government money now dubbed Cashgate.
In his submission to the court that his client did not have a case to answer, lawyer for Sithole and newly appointed Attorney General Kalekeni Kaphale said the State had failed to prove its case because it could not establish ownership of the money, specifically the K112 million (US$272 506.1).
Kaphale’s arguments followed the prosecution’s case that a businessman and Cashgate suspect Oswald Lutepo had denied claiming the local currency found in Sithole’s possession, arguing lawyers Ralphael Kasambara and Wapona Kita forced him to do so.
However, the two lawyers have since denied forcing the businessman to sign court documents claiming K112 million.
In response to Kaphale’s submissions, State prosecutor Kamdoni Nyasulu argued: “The court nullified the order which handed over the money to Lutepo which meant that Kaphale has, however, not made a submission in relation to the first count of illegal possession of foreign currency.”