Lutepo implicates JB, accepts cashgate wrongdoing on radio: Bows to Malawi govt pressure
Cashgate scandal that has seen billions of kwacha looted at Capital Hill at the expense of the general populace has now taken a new twist with media trial as businessman and chief suspects in the Cashgate scandal, Oswald Lutepo, has gone on radio to accept wrong doing in the case and implicate former president Joyce Banda.
Lutepo told Zodiak Broadcasting Station on Friday that Banda played conduit to the scandal and said the Baker Tilly forensic report which exonerated the former president was not thorough.
“I have been to State House several times to deliver money and some other audiences. If there CCTVs there will prove me,” Lutepo, a former deputy director of recruitment and sensitisation in Banda’s Peoples Party told the radio in an interview.
The interview comes after several reports on Nyasa Times that Lutepo has been pressed by government to implicate the former president to get amnesty and was recently threatened by Director of Public Prosecution Mary Kachale that if he did not comply, his wife and children would also be arrested.
His wife was questioned by Police last week.
Lutepo said in the interview – which has been rebroadcasted several times on the radio – that he is “in hiding” and that he feared for his life.
He claimed the cashgate money was being used for political purposes of the former ruling People’s Party.
“They used my account as a conduit,” he claimed.
Lutepo said he was willing to provide information to prove that he was working on instruction from former president to defraud government.
“We were sent to do things. We were sent to rig MCP elections using the same cashgate money. The former president did not want Chakwera to win MCP presidency,” claimed Lutepo in a well choreographed interview with Gabriel Kamlomo.
He played down that he has been instructed to implicate Banda.
“I have a family. I would rather salvage my image. We were used.”
Lutepo accepted his wrongdoing in cashgate as part of his plea bargain and stressed he won’t go alone.
“I am ready to prove my claim. Come what may, I will stand to the truth,” said Lutepo, calling on government to start afresh the investigations into cashgate.
He apologised for his role in cashgate, saying effects for it are devastating to the nation which is reeling in economic turmoil now.
“Am sorry to all Malawians for what we did,” said Lutepo.
“I have suffered a lot, humiliation. I owe the nation an apology and an explanation,” he said.
Lutepo said he has not been in touch with former president since he was arrested.
“Since I was arrested she has not spoken to me. She abandoned me,” said Lutepo.
He also apologised to President Peter Mutharika, saying he will face problems to run the country due to cashgate scandal.
Lutepo said he has been trying to reach out to government to explain his side of the story through letter to Attorney General Kalekeni Kaphale dated July 17 2014 and copied to the Chief Justice, the diplomatic community and Malawi Law Society, in which he accused former Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Bruno Kalemba, former Malawi Justice Minister Fahad Assani and prosecutor Kamudoni Nyasulu of forcing him to write false witness and caution statements.
Banda’s spokesman Tusekele Mwanyongo said he could not immediately comment on Lutepo’s “defamation”, saying only the courts that have the duty of establishing the veracity and indeed the whole truth of the claims.
Lutepo faces theft and money laundering charges of K2.6 billion (about $6.8m) in the wake of the Capital Hill Cashgate scam which was widely exposed following the shooting of former budget director Paul Mphwiyo in September 2013.
But he was used as a State witness on the K1.2 billion thefts and money laundering case against fellow suspect Victor Sithole who was convicted and now serving nine years jail.
Justine Dzonzi, a law expert and executive director of Justice Link called for “reasonable degree of caution” on Lutepo’s claims.
The Cashgate scandal saw some Malawi public servants – in collusion with various contractors – siphon millions of dollars from government coffers for goods and/or services not rendered.
As a result of the scandal, Malawi’s major donors suspended up to 40% of their aid to the country.
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Loose talk ndi yachabe. JB anali wa loose talk ndiye zikumupeza zolankhula zakezo. Remember nthawi ina yake amati amene anawombera Mphwiyo iwo akumudziwa, komaso ulendo wina amanena kuti tiwatuma anyamata othamangathamanga a Lutepo……. ulendo wina amvekere msika wachakuti chakuti wapezeka…….. This loose talk is not fit for a leader. Mwambi wina wake amati siya phazi mlomo udzakupeza…… Amayi anasiya mlomo ndiye ukuwapeza lero. Mavuto ose mukuwaonawa ndi amayi. She was playing a smart game. Ngakhale za MEC ndalama zoti alipire anthu iye amatenga kupangira kampeni. So this woman JB was using the Lutepos to milk our hard earned tax money.… Read more »
Lutepo is a disgrace to this nation. I now know why Kalekeni Kaphale once asked him in court: “Are you stupid Mr. Lutepo? Kkkkkkkk. Joyce Banda ndi deal ndipo akuzunguza kooopysa!
Ngati zinthu. Ziakavuta don’t blame any person.. I totally disagree with Lutepo in implicating the former Head of state .Remember Muluzi blamed MCP that had siphoned all monies from Government confers Bingu did the same to Muluzi,Joyce did it to DPP and DPP is busy dentIng Joyce thru Letepo.Konzani zinthu Remember Mr President you said things shall return to normal in economic situation in this country but now things are going in opposite direction A Lutepo Mwachedwa ngati zimeme mukunena nzoona
Simply going through what Lutepo is saying,one who has studied psychology can easily conclude that this young man is completely psychologically confused and heavily used by selfish people.It seems the past PP government used him to achieve their selfish needs.This time the DPP government is using him to tract JB,their number one enemy after seen Biker Tilly report not mentioning her.Those of us who know Osward, he is still too young to handle these complicated issues despite his direct involvement in Cashgate. He is now become the center of controversy for the whole nation.I think DPP government can not use… Read more »
THIS THIEF CONTINUES TO CONFUSE MALAWIANS!!! EVEN DPP HAS FALLEN INTO HIS TRAP!!! BUT DPP MIND YOU, YOU ARE RULING AND BE SERIOUS WITH GOVT. BUSINESS. THIS CHEAP POLICTICKING IS VERY DANGEROUS TO THE NATION.CASHGATE IS A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT SHOULD NOT BE MIXED WITH POLITICS. LET COURTS DEAL WITH LUTEPO INDEPENDENTLY!!!!!!!!
Nkhani siimeneyo gogo nasibeko in the ring
PAY BACK THE BILLIONS!!
For those who have done psychology,look at the statements where lutepo apologizes to Peter for the anticipated tough times due to cash gate,thus where their trick is stripped naked,don’t waste our time donors hate dpp basi period trust me,lutepo,Peter will really have trouble running gvt because of dpp’s involvement into cashgate,thus the truth
Eeeh ziliko ife timanena kuti JB.akachoka ndi pamene chilungamo chizaziwike
the whole country is in hot water this time cos of the few people and their greedy,what we need as malawians is peace and unity,so lets allow justice 2 take its course