Hostile State witness convicted

A State witness who turned hostile in court was given a suspended sentence of 12 months imprisonment with hard labour.

Milika Munthali was a State witness in a case in which vendors at the new Mzuzu Plank Market, Kelvin Chirambo, Felison Mvula and Zikani Moyo were charged with corrupt practices by persons contrary to Section 26 (1) of the Corrupt Practices Act.

ACB senior public relations officer Egrita Ndala said in a statement on Friday the bureau in 2007 received a complaint alleging that chairpersons of vendors at the market solicited money from applicants who wanted to be allocated business places.

ACB in April arrested the three.

“On 31st May 2012, one of the State witnesses, Milika Munthali, turned hostile in court.   She revealed that she did this because she had been coerced by some of the accused persons to testify in their favour.

“She was arrested on 7th August 2012. She was taken to court where she was charged with perjury contrary to Section 101(1) of the Penal Code. She pleaded guilty to the charge,” said Ndala in a statement.