By BigEyeUg Team
News reaching our desk indicates that Ugandan socialite Dorothy Shonga is on verge of facing a potential life sentence after court in Malawi denied her bail.
The self-proclaimed ‘Cash Madam’ was charged with money laundering and fraud over the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) gate scandal together with her colleague, at the same time lover Collins Magalasi.
According to a Malawi publication ‘Malawi 24’, the two made their first appearance in court last week together with MERA spokesperson, Patrick Maulidi.
Dorothy Shonga
In court, the three were answering to charges of with fraud, money laundering and entering into procurement with an employee.
Section 42 of the country’s Financial Crimes Act passed in 2017 sets a maximum of life imprisonment for a person who commits money laundering.
Section 331A (1) of the Penal Code as amended in 2011 before the 2017 Financial Crimes Act was passed states that “any person who engages in money laundering shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable to a fine of K2,000,000 and imprisonment for ten years”.
Chief Resident Magistrate Violet Chipao promised to deliver her final verdict on the case on Friday July, 31.
During the recalled court session, the state said the three should be remanded to prison as police continue with investigations while the defense prayed for bail.
This is after the state had pleaded that the three know witnesses to the case and may interfere with investigations.
This website has learnt that, Shonga is Magalasi’s business partner and together they reportedly own DC Brand Cloud.
Apparently, the state accuses Magalasi, Maulidi and Shonga of forcing the MERA Internal Procurement and Disposal Committee to award a contract worth K107 million to Vink Enterprise which is owned by Shonga.
The crime was committed in August 2019.
Shonga describes herself as a self-made millionaire saying she made her riches while working on the campaign of Zambia’s President, Edgar Lungu.
See photos from the latest court session;
We will keep you posted