The Blantyre Magistrate’s Court yesterday adjourned to next Monday a case in which former Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) director general Godfrey Itaye and two others are being accused of abuse of office.
The two others are Macra director of finance Ben Chitsonga and procurement specialist Joseph Ngalawa.
The trio is accused of authorising payment of about K8 million for the printing of party cloths for former governing party Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
They were in court to take plea yesterday, but their lawyer Clement Mwala asked the court for an adjournment to receive disclosures from the State to study the charge sheet first.
The lawyer told the court that after receiving the disclosures, he will be in a position to advise his clients on how to take plea.
Said Mwala: “We approached the State with a view that it won’t be in the best interest of my clients to take plea before disclosures have been given to us and we
are being told that they will be given to us this afternoon [yesterday].”
State Advocate Dziko Malunda did not object to the adjournment. He said serving the defence with the disclosures will be in the best interest of a fair trial as provided for by law.
After the brief hearing, acting chief resident magistrate Godfrey Balaka adjourned the case to Monday next week when the accused will be expected to take plea.
He also urged the State to provide the disclosures to the defence in good time so that they proceed with the case.
In an interview after the hearing, Malunda said the State is ready with the case.
He said: “We came here ready but the defence has asked for more time to study the disclosures as per the law, so we will wait for Monday when the accused will have to take plea.”
However, Mwala was not available for comment after the court hearing.
