Cashgate Player ‘Katengeza’ Awaits for Sentence

By:Chikondi Magalasi

One of the cashgate participants, Angela Katengeza, is now in police custody waiting for sentencing after High Court in Lilongwe, on Monday found her guilty of the money laundering charge. She is believed to have used her company’s bank account to launder about K105 million.

At first Katengeza was charged alongside Leonard Kalonga who is a former tourism officer in the Ministry of Tourism but the case was dropped after he pleaded guilty to all the charges levelled against him.

The defence lawyer stated that Kalonga took advantage of his family issues to involve Katengeza in the infamous cashgate case by transacting using her Company ‘ Faith Construction’, but she did not benefit anything from the money.

In her Judgement, Justice Fiona Mwale, said that Katengeza could have known that lending Kalonga the National Construction Industry Council (NCIC) certificate was illegal. She should also have known that the money which was given by Kalonga was tainted because she had no knowledge that he was in the construction industry.

Mwale said it was clear that Kalonga did not ask her first to keep the money but asked to use her NCIC certificate which meant that there was trust between the two.

“This court, on the basis of the prosecution proving beyond any reasonable doubt finds the accused guilty of money laundering. Bail is therefore revoked and the accused will be remanded in custody awaiting sentencing,” Mwale said.

The offence committed by Katengeza is contrary to Section 13 of the Money Laundering, Proceeds of Serious Crime and Terrorism Act