Lutepo pleads For pardon
While his fellow politicians are campaigning for positions ahead of the 2019 Tripartite Elections, Cashgate convict Osward Lutepo is pleading for his release from prison after serving three years of his 11-year sentence.
Lutepo, who was convicted on his own plea of guilty to charges of money laundering and conspiracy to defraud Malawi Government K4.7 billion in September 2015, is asking Malawi Prison Service (MPS) officials to include him on the list of prisoners who President Peter Mutharika will be pardoning as part of this year’s Independence Celebrations on July 6.
during a court appearance
The convict, who was a high-ranking official of the then governing People’s Party (PP) and donated vehicles to the party, told Malawi Institute of Journalism (MIJ) FM’s Tidakalipo Programme—a weekly prison magazine series—that he has demonstrated good conduct while serving his sentence. He also said his health condition qualifies him for pardon.
Said Lutepo: “I am pleading with President Peter Mutharika to pardon me because he is the only person who has the authority [to do so] so that I can receive the full medical attention [I deserve]. My health is not well and my conduct has proved to be good.”
In the programme, he said the President should not restrict pardon to prisoners convicted for minor offences.
Said Lutepo: “God forgives without looking at who did what. So, forgiveness should not be conditional.”
MPS spokesperson Julius Magombo said in an interview yesterday the institution has set procedures when shortlisting inmates to be pardoned.
He said Lutepo, like any prisoner, cannot apply to be pardoned.
Said Magombo: “It [the request] was like he was just chatting with journalists and he hasn’t declared to prison that he wants to be pardoned.
“However, we have powers to recommend prisoners for the pardon following our guidelines in our special committee. For instance, we look at the offences one committed, health condition at the discretion of the committee…”
Presidential press secretary and spokesperson Mgeme Kalilani yesterday asked for more time, as the request was just made through the media.
Zomba-based High Court Judge Redson Kapindu sentenced Lutepo to 11 years imprisonment. The judge imposed an eight-year jail term on Lutepo on the money laundering charge after finding him guilty of contravening Section 35 (1) (c) of the Money Laundering, Proceeds of Serious Crimes and Terrorist Financing Act.
He also sentenced him to three years imprisonment on the charge of conspiracy to defraud government contrary to Section 323 of the Penal Code. n
