Court rebuffs Muluzi plea to amend charges
The High Court in Blantyre yesterday dismissed a plea by lawyers representing former president Bakili Muluzi and his co-accused to amend the charge sheet in the ongoing K1.7 billion corruption case.
In his judgement, presiding judge Maclean Kamwambe said it was too early for the defence team to call for the change, adding that it is the responsibility of the State to make amendments.
Lead defence counsel Tamando Chokotho had asked for amendments to the charge sheet following failure by the principal witness, former Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) assistant director Victor Banda to substantiate claims that some of the money was corruptly obtained.
The defence argued that the charge sheet includes sums of money that were raised from Muluzi’s other sources of income which initially were not supposed to be included.
In an interview after the ruling, Chokotho said the defence accepted the decision of the court.
Lawyer representing ACB, Clement Mwala, in an interview said it was not proper for the defence to apply for a review of the charge sheet as the Bureau will parade more witnesses.
He said: “It is not proper to base evidence from one witness only. What if the other witnesses prove otherwise.”
The case has been adjourned to today morning for continuation of cross examinations.
Muluzi and his former personal assistant Violet Whiskey are accused of misappropriating $11 million (about K7.6 billion at present exchange rate, but the court is quoting the 2005 value of K1.7 billion) in public funds. n
