MCP official Soko jailed 7 years in Malawi cashgate case
Lilongwe Magistrate Court has sentenced Malawi Congress Party (MCP) former deputy director of youth Wyson Zinyemba Soko to seven years imprisonment for theft and money laundering for his involvement in the ongoing financial scandal dubbed “Cashgate” that saw millions of dollars looted from the impoverished country’s government.
Senior resident magistrate Patrick Chirwa sentenced Soko to three and half years on the first count of theft and four years on the second count of money laundering.
Magistrate Chirwa said both counts will run consecutively.
Soko was found guilty and convicted after was paid K40.9 million ($90 000) through his company Watipaso General Dealers from the Ministry of Tourism vote when the company had no contract with government, as testified by various government officials during trial.
“The accused participated actively in defrauding government,” noted Chirwa.
Chirwa also trashed Soko’s assertions during his testimony that a Godfrey Banda used his company and the money belonged to Banda because he gave “illogical and emotional” answers when cross-examined on the particulars of the Banda.
“I found the statements very strange and entirely unbelievable,” Chirwa said.
His lawyer Henry Kadzakumanja pleaded for non-custodial sentence.
But state prosecutor hired for cashgate cases, Kamudoni Nyasulu said non- sentence would be “shockingly inappropriate” and could cause Malawians to lose faith in their legal system.
He said the court need to “send a message to the public” through stiffer sentence.
“A suspended sentence would not reflect the seriousness of the offense looking at the amount of money involved. Only an immediate custodial sentence is appropriate,” Magistrate Chirwa said.
Soko becomes another statistic to be convicted in many Cashgate cases currently before the courts.
Last year a secretary in Malawi’s tourism department Teresa Namathanga Senzani was sentenced to three years in jail.
Unlike Senzani who pleaded guilty and gave back the K63 million she stole, Soko did not show such remorse.
The prosecution led by Kamudoni Nyasulu is expected to make an application to recover the K40 million from Soko through other means
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Mcp chipani chakupha , chankhanza ………and chakuba.
Interesting…… Magistrate Chirwa….. Convict Soko…… State Prosecutor Nyasulu
Banda used the account.kkkkkk
We are still waiting for others.
7 years is just a mockery of legal justice.All these cashgaters should come out of jails when all have grey hairs,teeth gone and using walking sticks.At least 50 yrs can do.The would be offenders will think twice before committing these crimes.7 Yrs is nothing these days.Zaka zikungowuluka ngati spirit.The money should also be recovered to build modern schools and hospitals.
Is it a perpetual imprisonment , re since both sentences will run consecutively?
Why are emphasizing on “MCP Official” when everybody knows that this guy beside being a mcp member he is a Business man. I only hope that all those who will be convicted you will also mention their part affliation.
A CHAKWERA WOYE !!!!!!! MCP BOMA !
mmmh..kuba mmodzi wa MCP mwanyoza chipani chonse..anthu oyipa..
Kwachaaaaa! Kwachaaaa! Kwachaaaaa! Amangwetu, wina kumati Kwachaaaaa! Kwachaaaa! Kwachaaaa! Dzuwa liri ng’oooo! Usavi (ufiti) chani?
MCP is now in trouble. Most of its members are being arrested in cashgate issues. Really these MCP guys stole a lot of public funds. Thats why they didnt accept a defeat in 20 may 2014 elections. Ine kudabwatu ngati Imraan, kuti Ochakwera umachokera mu chalichi, nanga ndala za kampeni odazitenga kuti. Kani idali cashgate. O MCP ogwana nayo. Muli kutha nonse psiti. Mitundu yakuba kwambiri m’Malawi muno idziwika basi.
He deserve it why can’t he just plead guilty to the charge simple