Cashgate Case: Kalonga Ready For Restitution As Case Adjourns For Sentencing Submissions

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.

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.

Cashgate Case: Kalonga Lawyers File Sentence Submissions On 1st October

The High Court in Lilongwe has directed parties in the Cashgate case of Leonard Kalonga to make submissions of the sentencing by the first weeks of October.

The Prosecution and Defense were back in court on Tuesday to hear directive of the court on how both parties may proceed with the case following adjournment of the case on 26th August 2015.

Reyneck Matemba 

Deputy Director General of Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Reyneck Matemba, said in an interview that during the sitting which lasted few minutes, Court directed that the Defense should file their submission on sentencing by 1st October 2015 and the state is expected to respond by 12 October 2015

"The court has directed that by 1st of October 2015, the defense should file their sentence submission. While us, the state have been asked to file our submission on sentencing by 12 October 2015." He confirmed

"After making our submissions to the court, we will wait to hear from the court on date of when to do oral submissions" Matemba explains

The ACB Deputy Director, also indicated that then, the court will make its directive of when it will pass the sentence.

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 that he recruited 17 companies to steal from government.

In his voluntary confession statement, Kalonga implicated former President Dr. Joyce Banda as person who instigated the scam for she wanted to use the money for 2014 General Election Campaign.

Cashgate Case: State Seeks Withdrawal Of Kalonga From Katengeza Case

Lilongwe High Court 

Leonard Kalonga conviction of money laundering has set ground for the state to apply for his withdrawal from Angela Katengeza case. 

Katengeza, who owns Faith Construction, is jointly accused with former Deputy Director in the Ministry of Tourism, Leonard Kalonga for the siphoning of K105. 6 million. 

The High Court in Lilongwe has received an application on Thursday from the state, seeking withdrawal of cashgate convict Leonard Kalonga from the case he jointly accused with Angela Katengeza 

This follows Kalonga conviction of money laundering of K3 billion whose particulars of the offense are the same with that which were jointly charged with Angela Katengeza on second count of money laundering. 

"According to the law section 131 of Criminal Procedure and Evidence Code, you can not proceed prosecuting that person. If you have been convicted or acquitted, on an offense which has same facts of a similar offense." said Anti-Corruption Bureau Deputy Director General Reyneck Matemba in an interview 

Matemba said proceeding with prosecution of Kalonga together with Katengeza would have been unconstitutional

"That is why we came here to apply for the withdrawal of Mr. Kalonga because he has already been convicted of the same offense of which he was jointly charged with Angela Katengeza" said Matemba

However Katengeza continue to plead not guilty

Now Katengeza charge has been amended as the prosecution has filed a fresh charge sheet which contains one count of money laundering. 

The case has been adjourned to to 8th of September

Leonard was charged of money laundering of whose particulars of his offense are the same with that which were  jointly charged with Angela Katengeza on second count of money laundering. 

The state was applying for the removal of Leonard Kalonga because he has been convicted of that offense. 

However Katengeza continue to plead not guilty

Now Katengeza charge has been amended as the prosecution has filed a fresh charge sheet which contains one count of money laundering. 

The case has been adjourned to to 8th of September 2015

Cashgate: ACB Happy With 3Yr Sentence For Senzani

The Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) has expressed its contentment of the verdict passed to the top cashgate convict Tressa Namathanga Senzani on Tuesday 7th October 2014.

Senzani a former Ministry of Tourism Principle Secretary has been sentenced to 3 years imprisonment on money laundering charge and 9 month imprisonment on theft of up to K63.5 million.

Deputy Director for ACB Reyneck Matemba who has been a lead prosecutor in Senzani case said the custodial sentence given to Senzani is a step ahead in prosecution of Cashgate cases.