Lutepo ‘is paralysed, wheelchair-bound’

Businessman and chiefcashgate suspect OswaldLutepo has his legs paralysed and in a wheelchair.

Lutepo had been at Kamuzu Central Hospital where he has been receiving treatment after his arrest on fresh charges of tax evasion last week.

Sources said he had a problem with his nervous system and has a paralysis of his legs.

“He has been referred to Blantyre to see specialist Prof Nyengo Mkandawire,” said an ally to the cashgate suspect.

“He is unwell, not fit,” she added.

Lutepo has accepted wrong doing in the plunder of public resources and apologised to the nation through the media, saying his companies were simply used as conduits.

He implicated former president Banda for benefitting part of his stolen money .Banda has since shot down the claims, saying they are “malicious” and calculated to drag her in the mud of cashgate.

Lutepo is regarded as chief suspect in cashgate cases  and charged in a K5.7 billion (about $11.4m) theft and money laundering case alongside former Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Ralph Kasambara, Pika Manondo and private-practice lawyer Wapona Kita, which is pending hearing in Lilongwe.

He is also is answering similar charges on an amount totalling K3.1 billion (about $6.2m)in the High Court’s Zomba registry.

Lutepo is facing another charge of conspiracy to commit murder charges alongside Kasambara, Manondo and Dauka Manondo in relation to the shooting of former Ministry of Finance budget director Paul Mphwiyo.

He was also slapped with another charge of perjury for  admitting that he lied  under oath in court.