‘ACB can still pursue ex-MHC boss’

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) says it may restart the case against former MHC general manager Golden Matiya despite his discharge by a court last week.

The bureau argues discharge does not mean conclusion of the matter and that the ACB applied for consent from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) which they had not yet secured at the time the matter was running in court.

On Monday last week, the Blantyre Magistrate’s Court discharged Matiya following ACB’s failure to secure consent from the DPP on a housing sale scam that also involved other MHC, top government as well as party officials.

ACB spokesperson Egrita Ndala said in a written response that the DPP had not yet granted the consent at the time, but the bureau is following up the matter with the office of the DPP.

Said Ndala: “As soon as consent is granted, the bureau will recommence the matter. Note that discharge does not mean that the case has been concluded in a court of law.”

The case was set for hearing on December 8 2011, but was adjourned to January 5 this year as the ACB had not yet obtained the DPP’s consent to prosecute the case.

The matter was re-set for hearing on April 26 and 28 this year and last Monday, but on both occasions the ACB had not yet obtained the consent, compelling lawyer for Matiya (Lusungu Gondwe) to apply for discharge of his client for the second time.

Matiya was implicated in the MHC house scam where the corporation’s houses were allegedly sold at below market value.