Manondo formally charged with attempt murder: Appears in court without lawyer
Pika Manondo, who handed himself to police last Thursday in connection with the shooting of budget director Paul Mphwiyo and the ensuing Capital Hill cash-gate, on Monday appeared before Lilongwe Magistrate Court without a lawyer where he was formally charged with attempted murder charge.
Manondo was formally charged when he went for a bail application. However, instead of hearing a case of his bail application, Manondo was slapped by the charge.
The suspect’s legal counsel John Gift Mwankhwawa was not at the court which lasted less than 20 minutes.
Soon after the case was read, Chief Resident Magistrate Ruth Chinangwa said the case will be committed to the High Court where Manondo would apply for bail.
The Prosecution team which was being led by Officer in Charge of Prosecution at the Police Headquarters Happy Mkandawire, who is also Assistant Commissioner of Police, said he had nothing to say since the suspect had no legal representation.
However, the date for the hearing of the case has not been set.
Wearing a black sports jacket, Manondo look unmoved throughout the whole hearing and could be seen laughing sometimes.
Asked by Nyasa Times outside the court, Manondo said he was not “moved”, maintaining he will reveal how some powerful people were able to sidestep Integrated Financial Management Information System (Ifni’s) internal controls to loot billions of public money.
Monondo said he would give his side of the story when trial starts.
Former Justice Minister Ralph Kasambara together with three people including Pika Manondo’s brother, Dauka and a former Malawi Army officer MacDonald Kumwembe and another person Charles Chalunda were arrested by the police in connection with Mphwiyo’s shooting..
