Cashgate convict Kalonga slapped with seven years jail sentence
Lilongwe High Court Judge Fiona Mwale has sentenced cashgate convict, Leonard Kalonga to seven and half years in jail.
Kalonga, a former tourism officer, was found guilty and convicted of conspiracy to defraud government using forged documents and paid the money to bogus suppliers.
Other charges included laundering of K520 million where he facilitated, abated and aided acquisition of six Scania Marcopolo semi-luxury buses on instruction from then Ministry of Finance budget director Paul Mphwiyo and laundering which were proceeds of serious crime between April and September 2013 with other persons to the tune of K3.2 billion.
The judge observed in her ruling: “The money was not earmarked for purchase of the buses and government must have had other pressing issues at the time. But credit must be given to the convict for making the job easier to trace the property.”
Kalonga changed his plea from not guilty to guilty to theft and laundering about K3 billion.
On the charge of conspiracy to defraud the government, Mwale sentenced Kalonga to one year, on facilitating money laundering, he has been sentenced to two years while on a money laundering charge he will serve a sentenced of seven years and half in jail.
The sentences will run concurrently, which means Kalonga will be in jail for seven and half years.
Among other things, Judge Mwale said the court considered different factors before coming up with the sentences.
“The convict has been cooperative, remorseful and restituted five vehicles and two houses to government totaling K72 million,” said Mwale.
The court also heard that Kalonga surrendered to the State some of his property, including two houses in Kawale valued at K19 million, a Range Rover, a Mercedes Benz and two Toyota Corollas.
Kalonga’s lawyer, Manuel Theu, said he will consult his client first on the way forward.
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Mary Kachale said “we are satisfied” with the sentence.
She said: “People in suits and in high places are very smart, educated people but have become so smart in criminality. We are satisfied that finally justice has been done.”
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He stole from Government of Malawi MWK3.2 billion and surrenders property worth MK52.5 million – who has lost?
He he amene sanabeko agende mwalo
Bwana Theu,
Consider bail application. We have the precedent now.
We have had enough of this. Kodi awa mukuwamangawa ankathandizila ndani kubako? Ife tikufuna mayankho, tidziwe komwe ndalamazo zinkapita zikabedwa. Amenewoso tithane nawo. Mwamanga ma contractor ochuluka omwe amagwilisidwa ntchito kutulusa ndalama kuboma, kodi ankamutulutsila ndani??
A Malawi anzanga, kusafuna kuthana ndi makechiswe komwe kukuchitikaku ndikomwe kukufoola nkhondo yolimbana ndikatangale mu boma. Tikudziwa kuti izi mukuchitila dala chifukwa mukudziwa mkhalidwe woipawu ukupitililabe. Nanuso, amabungwe ofufuza ndinso oyimba milandu, polekelela kusafuna kutiyankha nkhawa zathuzi nanuso ndiye mukutenga nawo gawo mumchitidwe woipawu. Dziko lathu silingasinthe chonchi. Mumudziwe Mulungu.
7 years only????? I understand although he retained the cars and the two houses but he still has a lot of assets which he acquired from that scheme. That is only 10% of his wealth as he will be able to enjoy it once he is out. Mind you thats 3 years + months and he has already served half of it. DPP Kachale must appeal of the sentence, at least 12 years will do good.
Civil servants get 14 years for theft of public funds. The womenwho beat and urinated on their colleague got 7 years. Malawi is a strange country. Kalonga will find and enjoy the money he stole with others.
Now we want to see Chaponda arrested and given maximum sentence on the same money laundering. How can he only be allowed to have a licence to keep money in the bedroom, when others are going to jail on the same.
If Chaponda is allowed to walk free on money laundering we will mobilise all parties outside government to a street protest!
Now that Kalonga is successfully convicted let’s now move up the food chain. The case further proves that cashgate existed (and probably is still active) and a number of very senior culprits are driving in the streets. Let’s go get ‘em. Our eyes are on implicated cabinet ministers. We are coming for you even if means hauling you from your death bed……..we will do so.
IF FOUND GUILTY PLEASE
SEND THESE THIEVES TO SPEND
THEIR JAIL TERMS ON FARMS DOWN KASUNGU PRISON FARMS
WHERE GOODAL
NANKHUMWA
CHAPONDA
AND ALL MPS WHO
BENEFITED FROM OUR TAXES WILL JOIN THEM
NO MERCY TO THESE WIITCHES PLEASE !
This convict has duped the whole prosecution and a learned judge. His so called cooperation/confession was a calculated devious endeavour, typical of a jail house snitch, to tell prosecution what they want to hear in order to get away from a long jail sentence. Soon we will see that his cooperation was all lies and trash! !!