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- Willah Mudolo is one of Shepherd Bushiri’s co-defendants in a R102 million fraud, money laundering and theft case.
- In its request for bail, the State alleges that Mudolo had access to cell phones while in detention, where a conversation took place about bribes to judicial officials.
- Mudolo has refuted this, stating that his signature was forged on a document where he admitted to having a cell phone.
Willah Mudolo, one of Shepherd Bushiri’s alleged accomplices, has accused the Department of Correctional Services of forging his signature on a document in which he confessed to having access to a cell phone while in detention.
This indictment was part of Mudolo’s defense at Pretoria Magistrates Court on Tuesday, where he was formally requesting bail.
Mudolo, his wife Zethu, the self-proclaimed prophet Bushiri and his wife Mary, as well as 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.
Bushiri and his wife fled the country 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.
On Monday, the State presented evidence that Mudolo had access to two cell phones while he was detained at the Kgosi Mampuru Prison in Tshwane.
One of the lead investigators in the case testified that Mudolo had signed a document admitting that he had a cell phone that was being used by WhatsApp by several people, including an unknown person who claimed to have an advocate who could help facilitate a bribe. to get it out. from prison.
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Through his attorney, Mudolo submitted a supplemental affidavit in which he said he refuted allegations that he had a cell phone while in custody.
“I deny having signed this document. I wish to point out that my signature was forged,” said his lawyer as he read the affidavit in the court file.
He added that he would hire a handwriting expert to examine the document.
However, during the cross-examination, the investigating officer pointed out that in one of the WhatsApp exchanges found on the cell phone, Mudolo was called by name.
The defense, without offering evidence, told the officer that it was easy to falsify messages.
He also noted that the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria had ruled on the matter after an application was filed because Mudolo was transferred from the local detention center to C-Max.
It was recorded that the measure was reviewed and annulled after it was found to be illegal, unconstitutional and invalid. The court also ordered that Mudolo be transferred back to the local remand center and that his remand privileges be restored.
The reasons for the order were not recorded by the defense, but the State argued that the order was related to the second time that Mudolo was captured with a cell phone and it was a technical issue with the processes followed to place him in C-Max .
News24 previously reported that Mudolo, was in a communal cell with 40 other inmates, when he was allegedly caught with a cell phone.
He was then transferred to a single cell that was believed to be safer.
After he was allegedly found in possession of another phone while in the individual cell, he was transferred to C-Max.
WhatsApp sharing
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 strong lawyers and that they had prepared well.
“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 I to visit you tomorrow. I think that will not change your perpetrations. [sic] with their lawyers. I am also very confident that he 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.
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.
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