Drama at Kasambara’s bail bid: Updated
Former Minister of Justice Ralphael Kasambara currently being remanded at Area 3 Police station in the capital Lilongwe indicted for money laundering charge has had his bail application at the High Court delayed after the Judge who was assigned recused herself and State prosecutor asked for adjournment.
There was little drama as Kasambaras case files were being tossed between Judge Esmies Chombo and Justice Ivy Kamanga when Kasambara applied for a bail before the court was adjourned.
Kasambara took it on Facebook to express his disappointment.
He posted: “Judges at High Court in [Lilongwe] reluctant to hear my bail application; file now being tossed between Justice [Ivy] Kamanga and Judge President [Esmie ]Chombo. Liiberty at stake here.”
Wapona Kita, a lawyer representing Kasambara, told Nyasa Times that Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Bruno Kalemba asked the court for the adjournment to enable the state to respond to some issues.
Last year Justice Andrew Nyirenda of the Supreme Court of Malawi also recused himself from Kasambara’s bail appeal application.
Kasambara is being charged with money laundering contrary to Section 35 of the Money Laundering Act.
Particulars of the offence say that on July 26 last year, a cheque (number 000304) amounting to K55 000 000 from International Procurement System (IPS) was deposited into account number 021000009811 of Ralph and Arnolds; NedBank City Centre Lilongwe suspected to be stolen money.
Kasambara said the transaction was done when he was a Cabinet minister and was no longer associated with the law firm in question.
The cheque is said to have belonged to Pika Manondo, who wanted to buy a house and had contacted Ralph and Arnolds to assist him.
