Former minister of Justice Ralph Kasambara and fellow private practice lawyer Wapona Kita have disputed an earlier testimony by businessperson Osward Lutepo that they coerced him into claiming K112 million in the custody of police.
The money is at the heart of a case against Victor Sithole, who is answering charges of being found in possession of unexplained large amounts of money in his vehicle and house last year.
The two lawyers, who the court summoned to testify in the case, yesterday confirmed knowing Lutepo in various capacities, among them as his lawyers, but denied forcing the businessperson to sign court documents, claiming ownership of the K112 million found in Sithole’s possession together with $31 800 and 122 400 South African rand in cash.
However, Kita told the court that acting on instructions from Sithole, who was his client when he was arrested in September 2013, he contacted Lutepo to go and claim his money, not that he was forced to claim it as Lutepo alleged.
Kita told the jam-packed court yesterday which came to see lawyers in the witness dock, that Sithole told him the money belonged to Lutepo and was meant for buying maize.
In his attempt to further discredit Lutepo’s testimony that he was forced to claim the K112 million, Sithole’s lawyer, Kalekeni Kaphale, wondered how the business could have entered into a bond with the court claiming the money knowing he would have to return it if recalled.
But during re-examination by private practice lawyer representing the State, Kamudoni Nyasulu, Kita said: “I presented to the court what I was instructed to present to the court.”
In his testimony, Kasambara confirmed that he knew Lutepo as his client at his law firm before he was appointed minister of Justice, as a businessperson but also each other as members of the People’s Party (PP) National Executive Committee.
