The high court in Lilongwe yesterday ruled that cashgate suspects Maxwell Namata and Luka Kasamba have got theft and money laundering charges to defend. Judge Annabel Mtalimanja was the judge who passed on the ruling.

In her ruling Mtalimanja said the court has carefully analysed the evidence given by prosecution as well as submission filed by the lawyers in light of sections 278 of the penal code and 35(1) c of the Money Laundering Act.

The court found former government accountant assistant Maxwell Namata with theft and money laundering case to answer while Luka Kasamba businessperson was charged with money laundering case only.

The Two are answering the cases in which, Cross Marketing, a company where they are directors received cheque payments from government of K15 Million and K9 Million without rendering any service to the drawer.
Judge Annabel Mtalimanja has since advised the lawyers of the accused persons to present their defence on the matter within 14 days. Kasamba’s lawyer Gift Nakhuni told the court that his client would have four or five witness in the defence against the charge of money laundering.

The case was suspended on 5 April following the testimony of former Accountant General David Kandoje, in the matter and since then the ruling has been pending. Following yesterday’s ruling makes it the first cashgate case in the High Court to reach this stage.