Lutepo escape claims rejected: ‘Not fit’ to stand cashgate trial, says lawyer
Lawyer for businessperson and chief cashgate suspect Osward Lutepo has denied allegations that his client had escaped justice, saying he remains hospitalised at Mzuzu MASM Hospital.
The lawyer, Osward Mtuwila, said rumours that Lutepo has escaped were “utterly false”, saying his client is “not fit and well” to stand trial “at this moment”.
Mtuwila has strenuously refuted rumours which went viral on social media that Lutepo crossed the borders to escape justice.
“Such a thing never happened. Lutepo is paralyzed and he cannot sit for more than ten minutes and for that reason he cannot appear in court,” he said.
Lutepo is regarded as chief suspect in cashgate cases and charged in a K5.7 billion (about $11.4m) theft and money laundering case alongside former Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Ralph Kasambara, Pika Manondo and private-practice lawyer Wapona Kita, which is pending hearing in Lilongwe.
He is also is answering similar charges on an amount totalling K3.1 billion (about $6.2m)in the High Court’s Zomba registry.
Lutepo is facing another charge of conspiracy to commit murder charges alongside Kasambara, Manondo and Dauka Manondo in relation to the shooting of former Ministry of Finance budget director Paul Mphwiyo.
He was also slapped with another charge of perjury for admitting that he lied under oath in court.
His health scare started after his arrest on fresh charges of tax evasion.
Lutepo had a problem with his nervous system and has a paralysis of his legs. He has been on wheel chair.
Lutepo has accepted wrong doing in the plunder of public resources and apologised to the nation through the media, saying his companies were simply used as conduits.
He implicated former president Banda for benefitting part of his stolen money .Banda shot down the claims, saying they are “malicious” and calculated to drag her in the mud of cashgate as part of the political vendetta by the government.
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Mary Kachale recently pointed out she will not trade confessors of Cashgate with non-custodial sentences
She said it was a mockery to the suffering Malawians have endured as a consequence of the accused persons’ role to plunder public money if her office was to accept defence proposal to trade confessions with non-custodial sentences.
Kachali said for this reason, there was no legal framework within which any plea bargaining arrangement can be made.
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Komatu sikuti cashgate yatha ayi. Munthu Salaru Mk 280,000.00 koma akukhala ku 47 pa rent komanso amayendera galimoto yovuta mafuta komanso ma spare parts. Ife abwinofe ndiye timangoyang’ana?
This man thinks that he is clever. Everytime I see his picture, my annoyance level increases.
Lift him in his wheelchair and take him to court. In other words- Do A Mubarak!!!!
Next thing Kasambara will claim to be sick
The said lawyer is Osward Mtupila not mtuwira. Lutepoi should stand trial with Joyce Banda because she received vehicles from Lutepo at a public rally
I think our late president sold us from this people
Koma zikomo munalapa. Mulungu amakhululukira only that you did not sit down first and calculate the cost of your actions. The country is in tatters. Peoples careers have been destroyed and their reputation has been destroyed as well. If only you knew you could have thought twice. Pokhapo munalakwa. We don’t know you koma it could have been better if you were not born.
ASK eGYPT.. THESE GUYS CAN APPEAR IN COURT ON WHEEL CHAIR AS LONG AS THE CAN SPEAK…COME ON MALAWI LOOTERPOO!
He was very fit atibera ndalama apite ku court basi
This people they are making us. Stupid If we look into it we will see this people they are benefiting from poor malawians en court of law they also Delaying Court cases this pple face their music
This guy is a liar he is not even paralysed. Lutepo is pretending to be paralysed but God will make him paralyse more than he is now. How can the whole Nation be suffering because of him? If the Government is shielding him for sure God will not spare his life. Amen
THAT SICKNESS SHIT IS’NT GOING TO WORK THIS TIME, WE HAVE LEARNT BAD LESSON FROM BAKILI, SO NEVER AGAIN. YOU WILL GO TO COURT IN A WHEELCHAIR, BED, WHAT EVER U PREFER WE WILL GET YOU THERE. IT LOOKS LIKE YOU ARE STILL TAKING US FOR FOOLS HA, WE HAVE SUFFERED BECAUSE OF YOU SO NOW ITS YOUR TURN TO FEEL THE PAIN OF EVIL. SEE YOU IN COURT NO MATTER WHAT!!!!! ONLY SUICIDE CAN SAVE YOUR ASS NOW.