Suspended United Democratic Front governor Frighton Phompho has joined as an interested party the review case in which Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) director general Martha Chizuma is challenging an order for her probe over a leaked audio.
According to an order granting the permission which we have seen, Phompho filed an exparte motion with the High Court under Section 363 (1) of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Code that he should be heard as an interested party in the case.
Chizuma moved the court on April 22 2022 for an order stopping proceedings and directions by the Mzuzu Senior Resident Magistrate’s Court for police to probe her over a leaked audio in which she disclosed information on ongoing corruption investigations.
Subsequently, the directions by the Senior Resident Magistrate’s Court were set to come before the High Court of Malawi in Lilongwe for review.
But Phompho on April 29 2022 filed his application with the High Court. He said he needed to be added as an interested party and that he should be legally represented in the matter.
The court granted Phompho his wish.
In a written response on Monday, lawyer Michael Goba-Chipeta confirmed that he will be representing Phompho in the review case and that he is set to file arguments on behalf of his client today as per directions of the court.
One of the lawyers representing Chizuma, Martha Kaukonde, said they are waiting for the Directorate of Public Prosecutions to file their documents as per the court’s direction.
Chizuma through her legal team moved the courts to challenge the order of being probed after the Malawi Police Service summoned her.
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