ACB parades last witness in magistrate’s case

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Thursday concluded prosecuting a case in which interdicted magistrate Mzondi Mvula and two others are accused of soliciting a K5 million ($29 940) bribe from businessperson Ramesh Patel by parading the last witness.

At least seven witnesses testified in a case in which Mvula alongside former deputy minister and businessperson Rashid Gaffar and football players’ agent Kondi Msungama are answering six counts on allegations of soliciting a K5 million bribe in February this year.

Judge Geoffrey Mwase told both the prosecution and defence lawyers to present final submissions by January 30 2012 and that he would make a ruling on whether the three have a case to answer after 28 days.

ACB investigations officer Rezita Kumitengo read out testimony from the complainant’s father, Shantilal Patel, who was unable to appear in court due to ill health.

In his written submission, Shantilal said he knew about his son’s warrant of arrest through his wife when she went to Namiwawa to see her grandchildren.

Shantilal said the mother found Ramesh with a gloomy face and after quizzing him, he learnt that there was a warrant of arrest for the complainant at the Blantyre Magistrate’s Court in connection with electricity bills accumulated at his Twigga Night Club in Malawi’s capital, Lilongwe.

The last witness was Airtel assistant revenue assurance manager Edmond Kungwalu, who was asked by ACB lawyers, Chrispine Khunga and Chiwala Chipeta, to explain to the court how the call log systems work and the accuracy of the information.

Kungwalu told the court that he did not know what Mvula, Gaffar and Msungama were accused of; hence, he could not say if the information on the call log was connected to the alleged crime.

One of the defence lawyers, Ralph Kasambara, indicated that they would be making a no-case-to-answer submission.