Woman in alleged money racket

Jean Katemana, a court clerk at Limbe Magistrate’s Court, is embroiled in a racket through which she has allegedly conned unspecified number of people by tricking them that she would sell them items which she has been parading in the name of the court.

Several people are yet to get their refunds for undelivered goods that range from motor vehicles; bags of fertiliser, cement and maize which she claimed were being auctioned off by the court.

But Katema denies any wrongdoing.

Police in Blantyre are handling the issue although spokesperson Lameck Thembachako said he needed to read the case file before commenting on the matter.

People who claim to be victims of Katemana’s ways—four of whom have confirmed but only one accepted a detailed interview—claimed that she has been conning her preys by tricking them using—apparently without their knowledge— principal resident magistrate Kinglsley Mlungu, his court marshal a Mr. Kaujole and Limbe Police Station prosecuting officer Patrick Kapanga. She also allegedly used court premises, official court seals and letterheads.

But Mlungu and Kapanga have distanced themselves from the allegations, saying they might have been impersonated to authenticate a possible shady deal.

Although actual figures of the money and people swindled has not been assessed, Nation on Sunday can verify a foiled transaction between Katemana and one of the victims through documents bearing court seals and letterhead we have seen.

Blowing the whistle last week, Henry Gonani, a Blantyre-based agro-dealer, claimed he struggled to get his promised 190, 50kg bags of maize and a refund of his money after a failed deal.

He claimed Katemana received his payment of K741 000(US$2148) [for 190 bags at K3 900 each] (US$11) for which he was promised full delivery within five days of payment.

Gonani alleged that while in pursuit of his maize, Katemana offered him a Toyota Corolla at K500 000 (US$1449), allegedly telling him that it was a vehicle that was part of a just-ended court case awaiting disposal.

“She showed me her own vehicle, a Toyota Carina registration number DA 4121, that she claimed to have bought at K250 000 during a similar disposal,” he said.

Later, Gonani claimed that he pressurised Katemana to deliver the maize he paid for earlier to allow him to pay for the car.

After days of uncertainty and near panic, Gonani said 173 bags of maize were delivered.

“As soon as I sold the maize, I returned to pay for the vehicle and more maize at a total of K750 000 (US$2173) that I was promised would be delivered alongside the 17 remaining bags from the first transaction,” said Gonani.

A hand-written note seen by Nation on Sunday shows Jean Katemana’s name and signature as the receiver of the K750 000, authenticated with a court stamp.

He claimed that after noticing further delays like in the first transaction, he demanded a refund.

There were also problems with the vehicle. Gonani said Road Traffic Directorate (RTD) refused to process the paperwork because the registration of the Toyota Corolla appeared in their record as a Toyota Dyna belonging to a Daisy Chidyaonga of Area 10 in Lilongwe.

The RTD officer who dealt with the matter confirmed handling the issue. He spoke on condition of anonymity.

According to RTD, CK 3461 belongs to a James Mackson of Blantyre. Kaujole said in an interview that he knew nothing of Gonani’s allegations.

Gonani said after struggles, the rest of the money was given to him two weeks ago at Blantyre Police Station where he reported the matter.

After we approached Mlungu for comment last week, he convened a meeting on Tuesday this week in his office to meet some of the victims in the presence of magistrate Chimphamba, Kapanga, district court administrator Chrisy Jere and three victims, including Gonani.

Mlungu said he did not know anything about any claims by any of the people mentioned.

While admitting knowledge of Katemana selling maize in her personal capacity, he said he never discussed anything concerning the alleged auction or being party to it.

“Katemana is a court clerk who has access to my office, official stamps and computers at the court. She may have used these for her personal businesses, which is illegal and a criminal offence. Court seals are for official use only,” he said.

Kapanga, who acknowledged seeing Gonani in his office, said he was brought to his office by Katemana but not for anything other than her claiming to have been on her way to the anti-motor vehicle department to process an unnamed car she was selling to a relative.

But Katemana claimed that all the businesses mentioned by the people where personal and said it was just unfortunate that the transactions were conducted within the court premises.

Katemana, however, could not explain why official stamps and letterheads were used to process ownership change at the RTD.

She also claimed she was not aware that RTD rejected the vehicle process.