(MaraviPost): Lutepo’s pleadings of guilt before Justice Redson Kapindu on theft and laundering money amounting to MK4 billion which was stolen in public coffers during the reign of former President Dr. Joyce Banda, had many experts of the law predict that the government was in the process of enticing Oswald Lutepo to become a state witness against the perceived big catch former Malawi President Joyce Banda.
According to reports in Malawi nation, sources close to the investigations indicate that prosecuting agencies held discussions with Lutepo prior to his conviction on K4 billion fraud and money laundering charges.
Lutepo’s lawyer Oswald Mtupila confirmed meetings between Lutepo on one hand and the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on the other, regarding Lutepo’s previous claims that he had evidence against the former president.
According to the Malawi nation reporting, Mtupila refused to give details of what was discussed. “We met and discussed some issues. The ACB also took a caution statement from my client, but I am not in a position to divulge the details,” said Mtupila.
However people in the know say Lutepo’s guilty plea in court on conspiracy charges was part of the process to eventually become a State witness to provide evidence against the former President Joyce Banda.
While Lutepo might agree to testify against former President Joyce Banda, the office of the DPP had been expressing reservations on the move due to concerns about the credibility of Lutepo alone as a witness. Mr. Lutepo has changed his statements on many occasions that it would be very difficult to have him as the lone witness against an internationally loved figure like the former President.
Prosecutors however are holding their cards close to the vest if they have other collaborating evidence against JB. The wild card is also what will come out of the Kasambara defense who has listed Joyce Banda as a potential witness.
Before his conviction, Lutepo had on one occasion written the Attorney General to withdraw earlier caution statements on Cashgate, claiming he was forced to implicate others.
According to the Malawi nation, Joyce Banda’s representatives are yet to speak on the matter, but the former president has always distanced herself from the plunder.
Ministry of Justice spokesperson Apoche Itimu confirmed in a written response that Lutepo met ACB officials on entering a guilty plea, but fell short of providing details and referred the matter back to the graft-fighting body.
“As to the evidence that Mr. Lutepo provided kindly consult ACB as he went to ACB and dealt with the officers/investigators there to advise them of his wish to enter a guilty plea,” said Itimu.
ACB senior public relations officer Egritta Ndala could neither confirm nor deny the matter, describing the questions raised by Nation on Sunday in a questionnaire as bordering on its operations.
“The Anti-Corruption Bureau is continuing with its investigations into the plunder of public resources. It can, however, not be drawn to comment on operational issues as doing so would jeopardize its operations,” said Ndala.
Previously, government, through Information, Tourism and Culture Minister Kondwani Nankhumwa, claimed it had CCTV footage depicting the former president meeting Cashgate convict Lutepo—but the existence of the footage has been quashed as a fabrication by the former president.
Meantime the former Malawi President continues to deny she is on self-exile even though she has been away without plausible reasons from the country for over 9 months with no date of return in sight. It is now becoming obvious the former President is afraid to set foot in the country she once ruled with approval from the International community.
