Updated – Kasambara on bail but gagged: ‘No Facbeook rantings’
High Court in the capital Lilongwe on Friday granted bail former justice minister Ralph Kasambara but gagged him from commenting on money laundering charges he is answering through the mainstream media and social networking platforms.
The DPP through Principal State Advocate Dzikondianthu Malunda, submitted before Judgy Ivy Kamanga on Friday that Kasambara should be restricted from prejudice.
The State asked for an order that Kasambara should not comment on the case to both the media, his Facebook page and even microblogging sites, as doing so will be regarded as prejudice to the case.
Lawyer Wapona Kitta representing Kasambara did not object to the condition.
Imposing bail condition, Justice Ivy Kamanga ruled that Kasambara should report to Police Headquaters Offices every fortnight and should not travel outside Lilongwe without reporting to the High Court.
Kamanga also said Kasambara should deposit K500 000 as bail bond, two sureties with K10 million each and handover all travelling documents.
The sixth condition according to Justice Kamanga is that Kasambara should enter into a bond of good behaviour.
However, Kita could not say whether the condition covers the earlier application by the state that Kasambara should stop commenting on the issue in press or on Facebook.
“It depends according to one is interpreting the condition by suffice to say my client is also a learned lawyer,” he said.
Kasambara, who was on bail on alleged attempted murder of former Budget Director Paul Mphwiyo, is being charged with money laundering contrary to Section 35 of the Money Laundering Act.
Particulars of the offence say that on July 26 last year, a cheque (number 000304) amounting to K55 000 000 from International Procurement System (IPS) was deposited into account number 021000009811 of Ralph and Arnolds; NedBank City Centre Lilongwe suspected to be stolen money.
However, Kasambara said the transaction was done when he was a Cabinet minister and was no longer associated with the law firm in question.
The cheque is said to have belonged to Pika Manondo, who wanted to buy a house and had contacted Ralph and Arnolds to assist him.
Manondo is also charged with the shooting if Mphwiyo.
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