With the treason case against 12 former top Malawi government officials, including Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) interim president Peter Mutharika, scheduled to start this Thursday, police are yet to track down and arrest one of the suspects, Allan Ntata, a former legal adviser to the late president Bingu wa Mutharika.
Ntata is reported to be abroad.
Both the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the Malawi Police Service said in separate interviews investigations are still underway to track down Ntata, but the two offices could not say whether any extradition process has started to have him back in the country.
Asked on progress made to trace Ntata, spokesperson for the State prosecuting team, Apoche Itimu, said efforts to have Ntata arrested are being handled by the other players in the case.
On the other hand, Inspector General of Police Lot Dzozi said the police were still carrying out investigations on the case, including to have Ntata arrested.
Besides Peter Mutharika and Ntata, other suspects in the case include former Cabinet ministers Goodall Gondwe, Symon Vuwa Kaunda, Patricia Kaliati, Jean Kalilani and Henry Mussa; former deputy ministers Nicholas Dausi and Kondwani Nankhumwa; interdicted chief secretary to the government Bright Msaka, his former deputy Necton Mhura and former presidential guard commander Duncan Mwapasa.
Last Friday, Itimu announced that the treason trial would start on Thursday this week, with four of the accused—Mutharika, Gondwe, Kalilani and Msaka—appearing in court to take plea on perjury charges.
