Kasambara’s appeal case starts today
Almost two years after convicted former minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Ralph Kasambara was granted bail pending appeal, Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal will today start the hearing of the appeal.
Kasambara was granted bail on March 14 2018 by Supreme Court of Appeal Judge Dunstain Mwaungulu after spending a year and seven months in prison.
He was convicted to 13 years for conspiracy to murder former Ministry of Finance budget director Paul Mphwiyo.
According Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs spokesperson Pilirani Masanjala, the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), which is prosecuting the case, already made its submissions.
In his judgement in 2018, Mwaungulu observed that there seemed to be an apparent contradiction on finding Kasambara not guilty of the attempted murder charge, but finding him guilty of the conspiracy to murder.
Kasambara, who served as minister in the Joyce Banda administration, was jailed by High Court judge Michael Mtambo for conspiracy to murder in a crime linked to a multi-billion kwacha corruption ring christened as Cashgate.
The Supreme Court will also hear the appeal case of Pika Manondo and Macdonald Kumwembe who were convicted alongside Kasambara.
Manondo and former Malawi Defence Force Soldier Kumwembe were convicted of attempted murder of former budget director Paul Mphwiyo.
Lawyer for Manando and Kamwambe, Michael Goba Chipeta has confirmed having been served with the notice of the hearing of the appeal.
Gunshot survivor Mphwiyo is also answering to money laundering charges in relation to Cashgate.
Hehehe so the prince of thieves is on trial. Okay, kasambara should be grateful to justice mwaungulu for the ticket out of jail. Ada Ralph, remember Wakuwolotsa mbuna wakukondani
Was this the guy was photographed with Bushiri? I didn’t know he was convicted of conspiracy to murder.