Ex-deputy IG Bophani behind Mphwiyo’s statement implicating Kasambara, court learns

Former Malawi Police Inspector General responsible for criminal investigation, Nelson Bophani has been implicated in the ongoing Mphwiyo Shooting Case which involves former minister of Justice and constitutional affairs Ralph Kasambara as the master-minder of gunshot survivor Paul Montfort Mphwiyo’s statements that so Kasambara and others be named as possible suspects of his shooting.

Bophani: Implicated
Bophani: Implicated

One of the witness testifying on behalf if first accused person ex Malawi Defence Force officer Macdonald Kumwembe,  who is former Publicity Secretary of the ruling People’s Party,  Hophmally Makande has made the claim in Lilongwe High Court  during cross examination by third accused person Ralph Kasambara .

Makande was testifying in the ongoing case of attempted murder of Mphwiyo.

He told presiding Judge Michael Mtambo that when he met Mphwiyo in police cell in Area 3, he got the sense during the conversation that it was Bophani who masterminded the shooting.

During cross-examination by former Attorney General and Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Raphael Kasambara on Tuesday, Makande told the court that Mphwiyo narrated to them how he mentioned Kasambara as one of the suspects who might have conspired to kill him for allegedly forcing him to issue payments to him through some companies.

Makande said Mphwiyo in presence of him (Makande), Ishmael Chiwoko and himself (Mphwiyo) in the cell narrated the whole saga without being asked on his own.

He said he was worried and feeling guilty for “lying against Kasambara” as he was being forced to mention him and lie to courts, police and Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) statements by then Police IG Nelson Bophani who was the leading officer handling the case

According to Makande, Mphwiyo told them that it was Bophani who was dictating to him what to write and who to mention as he was told it was “a directive from above” to nail down Kasambara.

Mphwiyo told them that he was feeling sorry now that he has been used and Bophani is nowhere to protect him as he was told he will be free and will not be arrested and his job would be safe as Budget Director.

According to Makande no one answered the gun-shot survivor as they were just listening to him narrating the whole saga even though he was not asked.

Makande told the court that Mphwiyo was mentioning other names of police officers and senor officials who were behind his statements and offering hope and assurance that he was safe and free from any arrests.

“Mphwiyo was just saying a lot of things and I know that him being shot was Bophani at work,” he said.

However, when Kasambara asked Makande to read out the disclosures in the Mphwiyo affidavit, the court heard that former minister of information Brown Mpinganjira, was threatening Mphwiyo.

Meanwhile, the state has formally told the court that it is objecting an application from the first suspect Macdonald Kumwembe who named ACB Deputy Director General Reyneck Matemba and Sam Kumbweza as some of the people he wants to appear in court and testify on his behalf.

State top prosecutor, Mary Kachale has told the court that her office is going to make submissions in two days time citing reasons why they are objecting to Matemba and Kumbweza to come and appear in court as Kumwembe witnesses.

Mphwiyo was shot outside the gate of his Area 43 residence in Lilongwe on September 13 2013, a shooting which is believed to have exposed the plunder of public resources at Capital Hill that came to be known as Cashgate.

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Taweni
Taweni
8 years ago

The case is losing direction and sounds laughable at this stage.
Do we really have prosecutors who can extract corroborating evidence.
These are cases which require seasoned prosecutors The task seems too complicated
to be handled by locals. The problem is people seem already convicted and they must defend themselves.

Citizen

kunyeziwa zex
kunyeziwa zex
8 years ago

kkkkk bt bophani shud also sentenced ndiyemwe waba ndalama zambiri za cashgte pa ma recoveries plz akwizingidwe basi no mercy!

Nyani wa ku Mwananyani
Nyani wa ku Mwananyani
8 years ago

Malawians kukonda kunama “heavy” ngakhale pa koti (Even prominent Malawians will lie in a court of law, even when know that perjury is a serious crime.) Many of the narrations in this case do not add up. How can people play with the legal system, like they think the court is at the Village Headman, and fine may be one of two live chickens. Judge Mtambo has a tough time here; and he has a lot to sort out, what is a likely truth or untruth based on probabilities and the evidence. So far the evidence seems to be defining… Read more »

MULOPWANA
MULOPWANA
8 years ago

Iwe #2 Beast Msonda ndiwe wabodza kunena kuti malawi yose imadziwa kuti makande ndi mzake wa kasambala, ife sitizidziwa

Mlomwe
Mlomwe
8 years ago

Bophani bophani si dzina la ufiti limeneli?

kadamanja
8 years ago

Kasambara, i have been praying for you. Basi Bomphani uyo pa ulendo. They hate Raph because he is a Northerner. Tiyeni nayo game.

Mfumu ya Luntha
Mfumu ya Luntha
8 years ago

Game of Chess. Wina adyetsa Queen ndithu apa.

Miko
Miko
8 years ago

Makande take care i know u ulibe zeru ukuti ukufuna kupulumutsa raph zikuvuta.

bunaya
bunaya
8 years ago

Ichi chipako basi tawakwizingani a Ralph nda Mphwiyo wo zoona tizikhalira kumva izi

Mzozo kununkha
Mzozo kununkha
8 years ago

The writing is on the wall and only someone like Daniel can read………. why is that she is always on the run? afraid of what? see now most of these implicated dudes were close to her? cant you see something is adding up here? unfortunately ndi bank yoboola yagwera yagwera no way out……. kuphwanhya basi

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