Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Times News
Published on 2024-04-02 08:01:37
High Court of Malawi Financial Crimes Division Judge Redson Kapindu is set to deliver a ruling this morning on whether further disclosures should be submitted in the corruption case involving State Vice President Saulos Chilima. Originally scheduled for this afternoon, the ruling has been rescheduled for this morning, according to court documents.
In this case, Chilima is accused of receiving an undisclosed sum of money from United Kingdom-based businessperson Zuneth Sattar to purportedly influence public contracts in Sattar’s favor. The matter will be heard in an open court in Lilongwe, as stated by the court’s assistant registrar.
The impending ruling is expected to resolve the heated dispute between Chilima’s legal team and the representatives of the Malawi Defence Force (MDF). Chilima’s defense is requesting additional disclosures from the State, while the MDF is contesting the request on grounds of relevance and national security.
The requested disclosures include minutes from the Defence Council Meeting held on October 16, 2020, which authorized the procurement of armoured personnel carriers (APCs), and a March 2021 memorandum from the MDF to President Lazarus Chakwera seeking authorization to procure APCs from Malachite FZE, a company associated with Sattar, using the single sourcing method.
Initially, the MDF declined to provide these documents to the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), citing national security concerns. However, on January 12, 2024, Judge Kapindu ordered the MDF to submit the requested documents, which the military subsequently complied with.
In his forthcoming ruling, the judge is expected to address two key issues based on his earlier judgment from January 12, 2024. Firstly, he will consider whether the information is of such sensitivity from a national security perspective that it may not be admissible as evidence in court. Secondly, he will assess the relevance, if any, of the disclosed evidence to the defense’s case.
Chilima was taken into custody in November 2022 after being implicated among 84 individuals alleged to have received bribes from Sattar, as outlined in a report submitted to President Chakwera by the ACB in 2022.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the ruling by Judge Kapindu is eagerly awaited to provide clarity on the disclosure of additional information pertinent to the corruption case involving State Vice President Chilima. The decision will bear significance in determining the admissibility of certain documents and their relevance to the defense’s arguments. The outcome of this ruling will play a crucial role in shaping the trajectory of the ongoing legal battle.
Read the original article on The Times
