State celebrates Kasambara’s conviction in Mphwiyo’s shooting case

Assistant Director of Public Prosecution, Enock Chibwana has expressed joy over the conviction of former Justice Minister Ralph Kasambara in the attempted murder of former Budget Director Paul Mphwiyo in the Ministry of Finance.

Kasambara together with Macdonald Kumwembe and Pika Manondo were convicted by High Court Judge Michael Mtambo for conspiracy and attempted murder of Mphwiyo.

Speaking after the conviction, Chibwana said Judge Michael Mtambo analysed the submissions without any bias, dismissing Kasambara’s claims that the judge was “compromised.”

He said Mphwiyo’s shooting is directly linked to ‘Cashgate’.

But Kasambara in his reaction has said he will appeal the case, saying the judge was “compromised” and the verdict is a result of “miscarriage of justice.”

Meanwhile Kasambara together with Kumwembe and Manondo are currently being kept at Maula Prison waiting for sentencing at a date to be announced.

The shooting of Mphwiyo on September 13, 2013 led to massive revelations of the plunder of public funds at Capital Hill dubbed cashgate.

So far over 10 people, among them top government personnel having been sent to jail.