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Cashgate: Mphwiyo pays K10m cash for bail from bag

Mphwiyo (L) outside the court yesterday
Mphwiyo (L) outside the
court yesterday

Former Malawi budget director Paul Mphwiyo and former deputy inspector general of police Nelson Bophani who were arrested in connection with the Cashgate were on Friday released on bail in Lilongwe

High Court judge Esme Chombo released Mphwiyo, ordering him to pay K18 million (about $40 000) as one of the conditions for his bail.

Mphwiyo, who was arrested alongside his wife Thandizo, is being accused of theft and money laundering of about K2.1 billion.

Both State and defence lawyers confirmed to Weekend Nation yesterday that Chombo released Mphwiyo on the bail bond during an appearance by both sides in her chamber.

According to the bail bond conditions seen by Weekend Nation, Mphwiyo was ordered to pay K10 million kwacha in cash and to produce four surities of K2 million cash each.

The court also ordered that his house in Lilongwe’s suburb of Area 43 be part of his bail bond.

Since Mphwiyo is supposed to seek medical attention in South Africa, judge Chombo has ordered that he should be accompanied by one official from ACB whenever he is travelling outside for surveillance.

The judge has however said that soon after his medical attention in South Africa, Mphwiyo should surrender all his travel documents to ACB.

The court has also ordered Mphwiyo to report to the Anti- Corruption Bureau (ACB) every fortnight, on Wednesday and should not leave Lilongwe without the consent of the ACB director.

After being granted bail, Mphwiyo was in a relaxed mood, munching groundnuts as he cracked jokes with well-wishers.

Clad in a designer black suit, a blue shirt and a matching green necktie, the man looked more relaxed than ever; and he was not alone.

Yesterday recorded probably the highest number of friends and family members accompanying him to the ruling.

In fact, it appeared his kindred had prior knowledge that their son, father, husband or uncle was going to be released on bail, come what may.

Apart from the ladies who usually carry handbags, there was one relative carrying a camouflaged backpack that caught the eyes of many onlookers.

It was later discovered that it was stacked with money in cash later to be verified as K18 million– the bail bond the court asked his team to pay.

Unlike another Cashgate suspect Oswald Lutepo who seemed hesitant during his time when he was asked to cough K50 million (about $108 000) by pleading with the court to be given time to go and ‘fetch ’ the money, Mphwiyo showed that the pronunciation from the courts was not a bother; he paid in cash, immediately!

The Mphwiyos were arrested on Saturday, October 18.

On Tuesday, October 21 they appeared before the Lilongwe Magistrate’s Court where Paul was charged with theft and money laundering and Thandizo with money laundering and forgery.

For Paul, the amount is K2.1 billion while Thandizo faces a K50 million allegation.

According to a charge sheet, the offence against Paul was committed in September 2013.

It reads: “Paul Montfort Mphwiyo sometime in September 2013 in the city of Lilongwe laundered 2.1 billion kwacha through various business individuals knowingly or having reason to believe that the said money was proceeds of a crime.”

The theft charge carries the similar particulars.

As for the wife, the charge sheet reads: “Thandizo Verna Mphwiyo, sometime in September 2013 in the city of Lilongwe used a fictitious trust called Good Deeds Trust to buy a house title Number Alimaunde 2/263 from Mr. Geoffrey James Kayanula at a price of K50, 000, 000. 00 knowingly or having reason to believe that the said money were proceeds of crime.”

Regarding forgery, the charge sheet says: “Thandizo Verna Mphwiyo, being a trustee of the fictitious Good Deeds Trust on 7th May 2010, forged a stamp used by a government Department for revenue purposes to stamp the documents of the said Good Deeds Trust.”

Meanwhile, the Lilongwe Senior Magistrate’s Court on Friday granted bail to Bophani.

Senior magistrate Paul Chiotcha has since asked Bophani to surrender his travel documents to ACB, pay K1 million bail bond in cash and K1 million surity non-cash and should be reporting to ACB every fortnight on Monday as his bail conditions.

Bophani, who was wearing his khakhi casual shirt and tinted sunglasses in the dock, has since pleaded not guilty to two charges of misuse of public office contrary to Section 25(B)(1) as read with Section 24 of corrupt practices and conspiracy to defeat justice contrary to Section 109 of the Penal Code respectively.

Lawyer representing Bophani, Burton Chimango Phiri asked the court to be lenient on the bail bond arguing his client is now a retired police officer.

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6 Comments

  1. This is a joke, right? A guy answering to money laundering charges brings a bag full of cash he couldn’t launder to the court? So surreal! Where was the ACB? Mxii!!

    1. I am also equally baffled by this. In fact, there is no mention about his bank accounts whatsoever!! We are so pathetic indeed!!!

  2. The story is full of poor grammar and for some reason opinion. Badly done piece reads horribly for a national paper. The editor should be fired. Aleke Banda standards are gone

  3. Malawi are a joke How come Judge Chombo didnt recognize that ACB ha no power to confine anyone in South Africa. Come on dont make Malawi Courts be a joke

  4. How come that Judge Chomboo didnt recgnize that ACB has no power to confine or restrain anyone in South Africa. Relearn concept of territorial jurisdiction. Or is she part of the Cashgate Syndicate. So who did Judge Chombo think will be paying the ACB/s Escort for Mphwiyo in South Africa. Come on Malawi Courts. You are losing credibilty

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