Court grants lawyer bail: Mulemba involved in K50m Malawi cashgate

The Lilongwe High Court on Wednesday granted bail to private practice lawyer Yambani Mulemba on charges bordering on facilitating money laundering in connection with former budget director Paul Mphwiyo.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested Mulemba of Knight and Knights law firm on Monday on charges bordering on facilitating money laundering.

Justice Esme Chombo granted the bail in the chamber soon after the lower court had read the charges to Mulemba who is being represented by Ian Malera.

In an interview, State prosecutor Imran Saidi said the case involves K50 million worth property and two vehicles.

“He is being suspected that he facilitated the buying of a house and two vehicles for Good Deeds Trust,” he said

Mphwiyo’s wife, Thandizo, is also facing charges in relation to the registration of a trust which disposed of the Toyota Fortuner.

Among the bail conditions, Mulemba has been told to pay K3 million cash bail bond,  two sureties to pay K1 million cash each, report to Lingadzi Police Station every Wednesday and not to leave Lilongwe without informing the Officer In-charge of Lingadzi Police.

His two houses, one in Area 12 and 43 have also been attached to the bail.

Saidi said the state is still investigating and there is a possibility that the money involved may increase.

Mulemba, who is yet to take plea, was mentioned in court in connection with Cashgate suspect Mphwiyo over allegations that he collected an envelope containing money at Mphwiyo’s house on the night of his shooting on September 13 2013.

He told the court that he collected an envelope containing medicine as instructed by Mphwiyo’s wife, Thandizo.

The 2014 forensic audit report into Cashgate also mentioned Knights and Knights, a legal firm where Mulemba is a partner, as one of the law firms which allegedly received money from people named in Cashgate.