Mphwiyo Shooting Case: Prosecution No Problem With Bail Reinstatement Of Kasambara, Kumwebe

Kachale: state respects court decision 

The Prosecution in the ongoing attempted murder trial of former budget director Paul Mphwiyo says respects the decision of the court to release two accused persons, Raphael Kasambara and McDonald Kumwembe from prison after their bail was revoked some few months ago.

Kasambara finally walks home 

“As State, our role is justice and when it comes to the interest of justice, the custodians are courts and the guardians are the courts.” Says Director of Public Prosecution, Mary Kachale in an interview after the defense hearing adjournment on Wednesday evening

“We make submissions and the courts are the final arbiter, so when the courts has said at this time considering all the other factors the court has considered, the Judge is of the view that the interest of Justice now weigh in favour of releasing the accused persons because all this time the case has progressed so well that we are actually going to the final conclusion they can go so that they can start to prepare the defense outside. So, we believe the justice is even handed so we respect the decision of the court” she said 

Before adjournment on Wednesday, the state was cross-examining the witness of Pika Manondo who is now in his defense.

The State based its questions on the alleged People’s Party (PP) scheme of supporting weaker candidate to run presidential race in the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) in 2014 Tripartite Elections.

The state was mainly seeking Pika to clarify on number of money deposits that McDonald Kumwembe had earlier told the court that they were made by Pika as payment on the alleged scheme which they were masterminding through devising number of tactics. 

The state argued that the pay was not chiefly for the alleged MCP Convention plot regarding contradictory evidence being given by Pika and Kumwembe on the same deposits and therefore state consider that those payments were for another business known to the two.

Pika continues to deny knowledge of some of the deposits allegedly made by him. He only acknowledged one deposit which he said was pay to Kumwembe for related to the scheme of supporting weaker person from MCP.