Kasambara remains in Prison: Strong allegations of assassination plot emerge
Former Justice minister, Ralph Kasambara, who was granted bail, earlier on Monday by the Supreme Court, has been forced to spend another night in prison following the refusal by Director of Public Prosecution, Bruno Kalemba to participate in the process of examination of sureties and went on to order the police to refuse service of any court order.
Apparently the top prosecutor, who could not hide his unhappiness with the Supreme court order to have Kasambara released as soon as bail conditions are met, is waiting for further instruction from the Executive as to how he should proceed with the matter.
Meanwhile, sources have informed Nyasa Times, that a plot has been hatched by the ruling People’s Party (PP) to eliminated Kasambara as soon as he leaves the prison premises.
According to Nyasa Times sources, Minister of Home Affairs, Uladi Mussa, last week, summoned police chiefs and the National Intelligence Bureau, headed by Joseph Aironi to agree on way forward following government’s failure to intervene with Supreme Court judges.
Sources have told Nyasa Times that the meeting agreed that only way to silence Kasambara was by “elimination”.
“Sindinati kudyelera (I am not done enjoying the gravy train). We have only been in office for less than 2 years,” Mussa is reported to have told the meeting.
He assured everyone that President Joyce Banda was in the know of the plan and hence no one attending the meeting needed to be afraid.
Nyasa Times could not confirm whether or not the President is the one who has ordered the elimination of Kasambara or the minister of using her name.
“If Kasambara is allowed to address press or rally tatha ife (we are finished). He is a loose canon. He knows too much. But the ACB is letting us down and the Prison Services sanatithandize konse (did not help us at all),” Mussa is reported as having told the meeting, without elaborating how the Anti-Corruptiion Bureau (ACB) and Prison authorities have failed to assist.
The Supreme Court of Appeal in Blantyre granted bail to Kasambara who had appealed against Lilongwe High Court’ ruling to keep him in custody for 30 more days despite granted bail.
Justice Anacklet Chipeta in his chamber ruled in Kasambara’s favour, upholding all bail conditions set by the lower court except the 30 days and 14 days conditions, which were the main issue in contention.
Among the bail conditions set by Justice Esme Chombo, Kasambara is required to provide K500,000 bail bondcashprovide two sureties bonded at K200,000 each.
He is required to report to Mzuzu police station once a week after the Supreme Court changed the earlier stipulation that required him to report to Lilongwe police station.
And has been asked to surrender all his traveling documents and is required to seek permission from court if intends to travel. There was jubilation outside the Supreme Court as Kasambara’s sympathizers celebrated his triumph against the State’s denial of releasing him on bail.
Justice Esme Chombo a fortnight ago granted Kasambara bail but postponed it for 30 more days after the State asked for more time to conclude its investigations.
Kasambara, through his attorneys, Mordecai Msisha, SC, of Nyirenda and Msisha Law Offices assisted by Jonathan Kara of Ralph and Arnold Associates and Lusungu Gondwe of Ritz Attorneys, argued that it was illogical to incarcerate him for 30 more days, and asked the court to reverse it.
They also pleaded with the Supreme Court to consider their application based on evidence from medical experts that Kasambara is ill.
