Lutepo arrested for lying to court
Businessperson Oswald Lutepo has been arrested in Kasungu and charged with perjury, his lawyer Ted Roka confirmed yesterday.
Lutepo, a former executive member of former president Joyce Banda’s People’s Party (PP) who came in the limelight when he was charged with various counts, including theft and money laundering of government funds amounting to K2.6 billion (US$6 265 060), also confirmed in an interview that two officers from Kasungu Police Station picked him from his home early yesterday.
Roka said the offence of perjury, which in a layperson’s language refers to giving false information to the court, is a misdemeanour.
Said Roka: “He [Lutepo] is being charged with giving false information to the court. We are trying to secure bail for him at the moment.”
Lutepo’s new arrest is in relation to a testimony he gave the court a few months ago related to another ongoing case involving Victor Sithole who was found with large amounts of unexplained cash.
Lutepo had earlier claimed K112 million (US$269 879.5) of the cash, but retracted his statement in court alleging that private practice lawyers Ralph Kasambara and Wapona Kita forced him to claim the money.
But in a turn of events, Lutepo on July 17 2014 wrote new Attorney General Kalekeni Kaphale, accusing the prosecution team comprising Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Bruno Kalemba, State-hired private practice lawyer Kamudoni Nyasulu and former Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Fahad Assani of unprofessional conduct for allegedly forcing him to make false witness statements implicating the two lawyers.
He has also asked Kaphale for assistance to withdraw caution and witness statements allegedly obtained under duress or he would not appear in court for fear of committing perjury.
