Savala to call ‘character witnesses’ -Kasambara: Malawi cashgate convict

Private practice lawyer Ralph Kasambara has told Lilongwe High Court that a number of character witnesses are expected to be called and testify to help in mitigation to cashgate convict Caroline Savala before she faces sentencing.

Kasambara said the four witnesses of character will attest to the good character of Savala in a bid to sway the court from slapping her with a stiff sentence.

“ One will be a pastor from her church, the second person will be a medical doctor; the third person will be one Leonard Kalonga, a civil servant working for the Ministry of Tourism and finally Florence Chatuwa, a friend of Kalonga and also a friend of Caroline Savala,” Kasambara told the court.

Character witness is a person, who testifies in a trial on behalf of a criminal defendant as to that person’s good ethical qualities and morality both by the personal knowledge of the witness and the person’s reputation in the community,

However, Kalonga is answering Cashgate-linked charges in connection with the procurement of six buses worth K520 million ($1 million); a K542 million ($1.1 million) case involving himself, Laura Savala and others as well as a K90 million ($180 000) case alongside Angela Katengeza.

Kalonga and Katengeza were found with a case to answer and are expected to enter defence.

High Court judge Fiona Mwale on Friday convicted Savala but despite facing up to a 10-year jail term for money laundering and another five years for theft, she remains on bail.

Kasambara and hired prosecutor Enock Chibwana agreed to bring the issue of her not being in prison on July 31 when sentencing hearing will take place.