The special state cashgate prosecutor Kamumdoni Nyasulu on Friday, September 11, 2015, argued that Caroline Savala had failed in her leniency sentencing application. He said the state expects to parade two more witnesses against her.
Initially the morning proceedings was adjourned upon request from the defense council that the convict’s lawyer, Ralph Kasambara, the former constitutional affairs minister during the Joyce Banda reign failed to show up before the chamber as he was reportedly sick.
Consequently, Justice Theona Mwale who is hearing the case quashed the calls for further adjournment in the afternoon session saying such tendencies were just delaying tactics unless a medical report was tendered before the judge which the defense team failed to produce.
As a result Savala was represented by Tisilira Kamphamtengo who also failed to cross-examine the state on the legibility of registration and application forms for construction industry brought before court which Savala signed saying the case was new to him.
Thereafter, Savala was brought into the chamber court for cross-examination which led to her refusal to answer most questions regarding to the tendered documents as doing so would be seen as self-conviction as her lawyer Kasambara advised the defense team to wait for him.
Thus, Justice Mwale adjourned the case to later date which will be communicated as the state expects to parade two witness including Mr. Kalonga and a pastor who are being allegedly used Savala’s certificate as a conduit to steal government money.
The Maravi Post later caught up with the special cashgate prosecutor Nyasulu after the adjournment on what was meant to the state regarding to Kasambara failure to appear before court and Savala refusal to respond to key questions on the state documents tendered in court.
“The development won’t affect the state or change anything on our next move. The convict Savala played a tactic game in refusing to respond questions from the state regarding to registration and application forms for the construction industry which she signed that doing so
would implicate herself in the absence of her own lawyer.
“Thus, the state will parade two remained witnesses to defend themselves from the allegations that they used Savala’s certificate as a conduit to steal government money. This is a justice to the convict before the sentence is passed on to her”, explained Nyasulu.
Savala, 33 years old, unlike her previous appearance this time looked calm and composed during the whole cross-examination. Caroline Savala was convicted for money laundering and theft worthy MK84 million whose maximum sentence is said to be 14 years in jail.
