Cashgate convict, Leonard Kalonga who is former Chief of Tourism, has told court that he is set to make restitution of millions of money he stole from Government as his case adjourns to 29th February for sentencing submissions.
The Lilongwe High Court convicted Leonard Kalonga and and is in prison pending his sentence for defrauding government money amounting to K3 billion between April and September 2013. He pleaded guilty to three counts and got convicted before Justice Fiona Mwale.
The case has been adjourned to 29th February for sentencing submissions then, court is expected to set another date for sentencing.
The court has adjourned because the defense wants some ample time to make restitution of some of the assets that were stolen and another reason was an in-house between Kalonga and his lawyer.
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| Reyneck Matemba |
The Anti-Corruption Bureau Deputy Director General Reyneck Matemba leading prosecution of the case said the State did not object this adjournment request from defense because their main and ultimate priority is "to recover as much as possible and as much as we can"
"So giving somebody an opportunity to pay back we thought that was reasonable. But after 29th February we will not entertain any adjournment. We will proceed with or without restitution because we have our own ways of recovering assets" said Matemba
However, it is not known even to the State of how much money Karonga is set to give back to Government. But Matemba says the restitution by Karonga is most welcome.
"This is a very good development and we well come it" he said
Former Chief of Tourism, Leonard Kalonga was found guilty and convicted of conspiracy to defraud government using forged documents and paid the money to bogus suppliers.
Other charges includes money laundering of K520 million where he facilitated, a baited and aided acquisition of 6 Marcopolo Scania buses of Paul Mphwiyo and Money laundering which were proceeds of serious crime between April and September 2013 with other persons to a tune of K3, 252, 225 billion.
Kalonga pleaded guilty to all charges and made revelation of genesis of Cashgate and named some of the key figures in government who became defrauders
He disclosed that himself recruited 17 companies to steal from government and in his voluntary confession statement, Kalonga also implicated former president Dr. Joyce Banda as person who instigated the scam for she wanted to use the money for 2014 General Election Campaign.
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