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A court has heard allegations of bribery from judicial officials.
- Willah Mudolo is one of Shepherd Bushiri’s co-defendants in a R102 million fraud, money laundering and theft case.
- He is currently requesting bail at the Pretoria Magistrates Court.
- The State has alleged that Mudolo had access to cell phones while in detention, where a conversation took place about bribes to judicial officials.
Willah Mudolo, one of Shepherd Bushiri’s alleged accomplices, had access to two cell phones while in custody and was communicating with an unknown person who claimed to have an advocate who could help facilitate a bribe, a court has heard.
This was alleged by the state during the continuation of Mudolo’s request for bail in Pretoria Magistrates Court on Monday.
Mudolo, his wife Zethu, the self-proclaimed prophet Shepherd Bushiri and his wife Mary and Landiwe Ntlokwana face multiple counts of fraud, theft and money laundering in connection with an investment scam that allegedly defrauded investors out of the amount of R102 million.
READ | Bushiri’s extradition papers have been signed, says Malawian government
Bushiri and his wife had reportedly fled the country since then and returned to their homeland of Malawi after the Pretoria Magistrates Court granted them bail in November.
Mudolo, a citizen of Zambia, was the only defendant still in detention after his wife and Ntlokwana were successful in their bail requests, which became known at the same time as the Bushiri request.
Bail
One of the lead investigators in the matter took the stand Monday to oppose the bail request, telling the court that Mudolo was caught using cell phones while in Kgosi Mampuru Prison on two separate occasions since he was arrested in October. .
On October 29, Mudolo, who was in a common cell with about 40 other prisoners, was captured using a cell phone and communicating with various people via WhatsApp.
Screenshots of one of the WhatsApp conversations were provided as evidence and detailed conversations about the court proceedings, as well as the transfer of around 100,000 rand.
The stranger who was communicating with Mudolo, would call him “man of God” and said that he was praying for Mudolo.
Mudolo, who also called the person “man of God,” apparently told him in an exchange that he had very strong lawyers and that they had prepared very well.
Pray
“Now we must pray to Almighty God,” Mudolo said.
The person responded in a text message: “So, without involving money, I wanted both him and me to visit you tomorrow. I think it will not change our perpetrations with our lawyers. I am also very confident that you will be released this Friday.” “
It is unclear who the man was referring to when he said that he and another man wanted to visit Mudolo.
Bribe
The person then allegedly sent another message in which it appeared that he was talking about the possibility of bribing court officials.
“Maybe we will see this Friday … But if things are not going well, better use a lawyer, but a black person who can mediate both (the judge and) the 16 court prosecutors, regarding the issue of bribery if he is good for you “.
“This guy is a lawyer, but he says he has defenders … who therefore have a strong corrupt relationship with the court 16,” the person said in another follow-up message.
After the discovery of the first cell phone, Mudolo was transferred to a single cell that was considered more secure and protected; however, on November 10, he was found in possession of another cell phone.
The State further alleged that Mudolo had signed a document in which he admitted that he had the cell phones while he was incarcerated.
The application of the bond continues.
