Muluzi to seek trial date for compensation lawsuit

Former president Bakili Muluzi is going to seek a trial date for a case where he is demanding compensation from government for false imprisonment, physical inconvenience and defamation for his arrest in May 2008.

Muluzi was arrested in connection with an alleged treason case against former president the late Bingu wa Mutharika, which government later failed to pursue against him.

However, government denied liability on compensation claims Muluzi made.

Muluzi’s lawyer Kalekeni Kaphale in an interview on Wednesday said the matter was still in court, but he was going to seek a date for trial where government, through the Attorney General (AG), is expected to defend the matter.

In a letter dated January 17 2012 to the AG, Muluzi argued that as former head of State and leader of the United Democratic Front (UDF), he suffered total embarrassment and humiliation through his detention.

Muluzi claimed that his arrest at Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) was captured by all local and international media, causing untold loss of confidence by the people who trusted him.

After his arrest, the former president was taken to the High Court in Blantyre where police failed to convince the court to put him under house arrest. He was given bail and the case never proceeded.

Muluzi’s letter of claim stated that while he was in the United Kingdom receiving medical attention, the then president, Mutharika, addressed a rally in Nkhata Bay where he alleged that some people were planning to overthrow his government.

Within days of that statement, the letter stated, some serving and retired police and Army officers, including officials of the opposition UDF were arrested and detained.

Mutharika died of cardiac arrest on April 5 2012 while serving as a head of State.

Government has so far paid compensation to some people arrested in connection with the alleged treason, including the Army and police officers.