Malawi Police rearrest Cashgate suspect Lutepo
Businessman and one of the suspects in the Cashgate scandal, Oswald Lutepo, has been rearrested in Kasungu – just after claiming to Attorney General in a letter that he was coerced into writing false witness and caution statements with a view to implicate former Justice Minister Ralph Kasambara.
Lutepo confimed with Nyasa Times on Sunday that police stormed his house and picked him.
“I have been picked by police, I am under arrest now,” Lutepo told Nyasa Times in a telephone interview.
His lawyer Ted Roka also confirmed to Nyasa Times that Lutepo is in police custody.
“He was arrested at his home in Kasungu. He [Lutepo] is being charged with giving false information to the court,” said Roka.
Kasungu Police Prosecutor Rodwell Ziyaya confirmed Lutepo’s arrest.
“Mr. Lutepo has been arrested for perjury,” he said.
Police arrested Lutepo after his 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 has made allegations againt 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.
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 theft and money laundering case against fellow suspect Victor Sithole.
When Sithole was arrested, Lutepo applied to the court to order that the local currency of the money found in Sithole’s possession be released to him, but later changed the tune, claiming he was forced to do so by lawyers Ralph Kasambara and Wapona Kita.
