Mphwiyo assailants used weaker gun, says Dr Valera: Malawi Cashgate

Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) head surgeon Dr Carlos Valera said the assailant who shot former Budget Director Paul Mphwiyo might have used a weaker gun in their attempted murder plot.

Gun-shot survivor Mphwiyo
Gun-shot survivor Mphwiyo

Valera, who is the sixth state prosecution witness, told the court, presided over by Justice Michael Mtambo, when he was testifying in court on Wednesday.

Two bullets hit Mphwiyo in the mandible and another went through his shoulder to his chest. One bullet was removed in a South African hospital but two others – lodged in his spinal column – will remain inside the 38-year-old for the rest of his life.

State prosecutor Enock Chibwana had asked Valera to explain the different entry points of the bullets.

“In my suggestion, I think the first bullet hit the victim just next the mouth because he was facing the assailants, the second one hit him on the jaws because he was facing forward and the third  one hit him in the armpit as he was shielding his face with the hand,” Valera told the court.

“I believe he survived maybe because the gun used was weak or his body is strong,” said Valera.

However, when Chibwana asked the experienced surgeon to describe the type of the gun, defence lawyers Ralph Kasambara (also an accused in the case) and John Gift Mwakhwawa objected, saying the witness has no expertise in weapons.

Justice Michael Ntambo sustained the objection.

During cross examination, Mwakhwawa asked if it is possible that apart from weak weapon and strong body, it might also be that distance played a role to save Mphwiyo, a notion which Valera denied.

Mphwiyo’s shooting unravelled ‘cashgate’ and the resultant discovery that up to K22 billion was minted from the government payment system, where politicians and businessmen colluded with civil servants for payments for goods and services not rendered to government.

Malawi government is investigating the disappearance of about K22 billion from 2012 to 2014, and there is also an outcry to probe the K92 billion during the rule of former president Bingu wa Mutharika, from 2005 to 2012

Cashgate dates back to 2005 when the Integrated Financial Management and Information System (Ifmis) was launched and Lutepo prominently appears to have  got the second highest payments on the list of individuals amounting to K4.4 billion (US$9.8 million).

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NOVILIKANA
9 years ago

vasuzgatu apa manyi vitonekenge vekha apo vitimalulenge

steven
steven
9 years ago

Have you red kasambara’s maid testimony? Kasa… is involved tifuniranjinso umboni wina wantchito atawulura zooopsa za patsiku limenelo.dyly * of 19 feb.15

Cathy
Cathy
9 years ago

I do agree with the doctor the ammo was weak had it been a 9 mm upwards tikanamva zina

EYE WITNESSES
EYE WITNESSES
9 years ago

Dr Valera if a fool. What Kasambala has said is true. He is a mere surgeon and has no expertise in weaponry. Only a ballistic expert would ascetain that. The evidence being given will set the acused free because its not so incriminating. Even in the western countries they rely on confession of the acused or forensic science or catching the acused in action. Not of that happened and it might concluded to be guess work.

Arthur G.M. Mtambo
9 years ago

STORNG BODY NDIYE KUTI ALI NDI CHINA CHAKE MUTHU MWAKE CHA MAKHWALA KAPENA NDI OKHWIMA NDI NYANGA.

GOD KNOWS.

Pita Munthalikha
Pita Munthalikha
9 years ago

Mukangolora kuti uyu Kasambala apulumuke, muzafa imfa ya mphenzi.

peter
peter
9 years ago

Winawake zamupweteka mene Dr Valera anena kuti a weaker gun could have been used and denied that the wounds could be caused by a long range shooting! La 40 likakwana kamakupha ndi kanthu kopusa!!

Hebrews
Hebrews
9 years ago

Its a matter of time! Kasambara his days are numbered! If not this murder case, then Cashgate if not then money laundering! The devil is waiting for Kasambara at the gate of Maula Prison. Once sentenced there is nothing like BP or sugar. Is Prison with hard labour!

chindere
chindere
9 years ago

MBUZI NONSE PALIBE CHIMENE MUKUDZIWA.lAWYER NDI lAWYER OSAPEPEPUSA NTCHITO YA WINA.OR NTCHITO YANUYO AMWENE SIMULI NOKHA BUT IT DOES NOT MEAN SOMEONE KNOWS BETTER THAN THE OTHER AYI.ZITSIRU

Makape
Makape
9 years ago

Iwe no31 ine si supporter wa Kasambara. I am just a keen follower of the case. I know how courts work. I have gone through it. Iwe ndi mbuzi you think courts work on hatred?

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