Maravi

Musonda visited me in prison - Mohan

Musonda visited me in prison - Mohan
By Namatama Mundia and Agness Changala
Thu 17 May 2012, 12:00 CAT

INCARCERATED murder suspect Mathew Mohan says suspended Supreme Court judge Phillip Musonda visited him in prison and begged him not to testify against him in the judge Lovemore Chikopa tribunal.

Mohan told journalists yesterday, after a case where he is jointly charged with Mary Gibbons and court interpreter Maxwell Jiki of corruption involving K10 million was adjourned to July 25, 2012 for judgment by Lusaka High Court deputy registrar for court operations Chilombo Phiri, who sat as a magistrate.

The Zambia Daily Mail recently reported that judge Musonda visited Mohan at the Lusaka Central Prison, commonly known as Chimbokaila where the latter is currently serving a two-and-half-year sentence for obtaining goods by false pretences.

However, judge Musonda, whose request to be retired in national interest was rejected by President Michael Sata, in a letter to justice minister Sebastian Zulu said he never met or knew Mohan and that the Director of Public Prosecution DPP Mutembo Nchito and the Zambia Intelligence and Security Services ZISS were intent on fabricating evidence against him, adding that his life was "in danger".

But Mohan told reporters that he did not understand why judge Musonda was panicking over the tribunal set up to probe him over alleged misconduct with two High Court judges, Charles Kajimanga and Nigel Mutuna, because everyone saw him when he went to visit him at Chimbokaila Prison.

"He came to beg me not to testify against him but I am ready to testify before the tribunal if they call me," Mohan said.

And in a handwritten statement released by Mohan and copied to his lawyers Bonaventure Mutale, Likando Kalaluka and Kennedy Kaunda of Ellis and Company dated May 16, 2012, Mohan said it was amazing to see how many people were actually sincere in Zambia, especially over the fight against corruption in the Judiciary.

"I personally know how rotten and corrupt judge Musonda and Lusaka High Court deputy registrar for Subordinate Courts Charles Kafunda are. It is also shocking to see Kafunda even being promoted when both judge Musonda and himself are corrupt to the bone. These two are actual beneficiaries of the bribery money that caused the death of an innocent life, can't talk much because this matter is in court," Mohan said. "Today judge Musonda is saying he doesn't know me, shame, in Bemba they say 'Tabatuka ng'wena amolu yali mumenshi' or in Nyanja 'osatukana ngwena ngati matako yali mumanzi' don't insult a crocodile when your legs are still in the water or don't disparage a crocodile when your backside in still in the water."

Mohan said no one would stop him from telling the truth about how rotten and corrupt judge Musonda and Kafunda were because he knows them.

On judge Musonda's visit, Mohan said he was not going to comment much saying a beggar is not a chooser.

"Judge Musonda and his group will not tell me what to say or what not to say. Musonda first went to my lawyers Bonaventure Mutale S.C from Ellis and Co, but failed to achieve anything there, so he came to offer me a reward to keep quiet over the Itowala case, where he and Kafunda got bribes amounting to billions," he said.

Mohan said judge Musonda was now accusing Mutembo Nchito and the intelligence of trying to kill him.

"Shame on him," said Mohan. "Mutembo Nchito and the OP were not there when Musonda and Kafunda engaged themselves in the corrupt activities. Don't accuse others for your rottenness."

Labels: CORRUPTION, MATTHEW MOHAN, PHILLIP MUSONDA

posted by MrK @ 5:48 PM