Judge punches holes into Muluzi’s medical report

Malawi’s former president Bakili Muluzi on Thursday presented to the High Court a medical report which suggests he needs at the most six months for the wound to recover following an operation he underwent in October.

But High Court Judge McLean Kamwambe queried the report for lacking finer details on the advice made therein.

In the report, Muluzi’s doctor, Martin Jacobsohn of Stellenbosch Medi-Clinic in South Africa, advises that during the six months, Muluzi should avoid strenuous engagements.

The doctor prescribed a strong pain killer that causes dizziness and Muluzi is to return to the hospital on February 4, 2012 for a review.

The development has consequently affected progress of his K1.7 billion (about $5.6m at current exchange rate) corruption case which started in 2009.

Judge Kamwambe was not amused with the contents of the report.

“Unfortunately, the doctor is not clear to explain certain issues that would arise. It [the report] does not explain for how long the painkiller is supposed to be taken.

“We don’t even know what constitutes prolonged period of sitting. One would ask if this dizziness is for the whole day or a short period of time after taking the painkiller,” wondered Kamwambe.

He also observed that the doctor did not suggest for how long the medical review would take.

The judge then adjourned the matter to February 25 for another mention which will give direction as to when Muluzi will go back in the dock to answer corruption allegations.

Muluzi and his co-accused Lyness Violet Whiskey are accused of diverting the money into Muluzi personal accounts when he was in power between 1994 and 2004. Both deny the charges.