CASHGATE; SITHOLE’s VEDICT TODAY

The Lilongwe Magistrate Court is today expected to deliver its ruling on the second convict in the plundering of public funds at Capitol Hill dubbed Cashgate, Victor Sithole, former government assistant accountant.

Senior Resident Magistrate Patrick Chirwa found Sithole guilty of being found in possession of unexplained cash suspected to have been stolen amounting to K112 million , $31 800 (about K13.6 million) and R122 400 (about K4.5 million) in hard cash which was found at his house in Area 47 in September last year.

His sentencing was scheduled for October 28 butthe Lilongwe Magistrate failed to do so Chirwa following the appointment of Necton Mhura, who was representing Sithole in the case as Ambassador to the United States of America by President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika.

Mhura was replaced by Ted Roka and the case was adjourned to yesterday to give the defence team led by Roka a chance to look into the case since he was new to the case.

During the court seating yesterday, the defence team presented its possible sentence and asked the court not slap jail sentence to his client.

On the other hand, the prosecution asked the court to impose a sentence of six to eight years imprisonment with hard labour for money laundering and forfeiture of property on former government accounts assistant Victor Sithole, convicted of being found in possession of stolen money and illegal possession of forex.

After hearing argument from both side, Chirwa adjourned the case to today for sentencing.