Court denies Kasambara bail, Judge Mtambo says no ‘special grounds ‘

The High Court in Lilongwe has denied bail to convicted former Justice minister and attorney general Ralphael Kasambara.

Judiciary spokesperson Mlenga Mvula confirmed Judge Michael Mtambo threw  out the application for Kasambara and two of his jail mates in the conspiracy to murder case because there are no special grounds to warrant bail pending appeal of the case to the Supreme Court.

“The juidge said there are no unusual circumstances to warrant bail for the convicted, they have no special grounds to be considered for bail pending for the appeal,” he said.

A once high flying lawyer Kasambara was jailed for 13 years for conspiracy to murder former Budget Director Paul Mphwiyo, an incident which triggered the K30 billion cashgate, the plunder of public resources at Capital Hill.

Kasambara’s co accused MacDonald Kumwembe and Pika Manondo were jailed to 15 years and 11 years each.

The judge noted there is no likelihood that the appeal will succeed.

Judiciaty sources indicate that the appeal will be heard in the Supreme Court of Malawi by next year .