Ex-Malawi leader Muluzi stops witness with 'hearsay' evidence in graft trial
Written by YAMIKANI SIMUTOWE
BLANTYRE (MaraPost) — The Blantyre High Court on Wednesday stopped the Anti-Corruption Bureau’s (ACB) first witness Victor Banda from tendering ‘hearsay evidence’ against former president Bakili Muluzi, who is answering charges of diverting K1.7 billion public money into his personal account.
Banda, who is Assistant Director of Operations at the graft bursting body, was set to present the evidence to the court but lawyers for Muluzi challenged the move, saying the evidence was “mere hearsay” as it wasn't prepared by him.
The defence team through lawyers Kalekeni Kaphale and Viva Nyimba argued that the evidence which is an analysis from bank statements and receipts and prepared by others was secondary and inadmissible.
“If anything, it should be the authors which produced those statements and receipts who should be tendering this evidence in court and not the witness.
“The materials are hearsay as he is not the one who prepared it and accommodating them would be against the nature of common sense,” said Kaphale.
Presiding judge Maclean Kamwembe ordered that the material shouldn't be tendered until a formal ruling on matter is made by the court.
ACB also asked the court to throw lawyer Gaston Mwenelupembe out from the defence team considering he once worked at the bureau as chief prosecutor during investigations of the this case and could have privileged inside information regarding the matter.
ACB arrested and dragged Muluzi to court on charges of possession of unexplained property, diverting K1.7 billion donor money into his personal account and the purchasing of vehicles worth K200 million while he was in power between 1994 and 2004.
ACB is expected to parade 30 witnesses against Muluzi in this case.
---
(c) The Maravi Post 2013
Hits: 575
Pres. Banda, Bakili Muluzi to attend AU’s 50th birthday bash in Ethiopia
Written by YAMIKANI SIMUTOWE
BLANTYRE (MaraPost)— Malawi's Pres. Joyce Banda leaves the country on Friday for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for the 21st African Union Summit and the golden jubilee of the African Union.
Rare earth metals exploration starts in Malawi
Written by YAMIKANI SIMUTOWE
BLANTYRE (MaraPost) — Malawi has rolled out a $20 million project to start exploration for rare earth metals and natural gas in the southern part of the country.
Kicking it up a notch: Protesting Malawi Polytechnic, Chanco students to lobby MPs
Written by MANENO CHIMULALA
MZUZU (MaraPost) — Students from the Malawi Polytechnic and Chancellor College, both under the University of Malawi (Unima), have vowed not to go back to class until their grievances are addressed.
Mzuni DETERIN to celebrate Africa Day in style, brings distinguished youths together
Written by MANENO CHIMULALA
MZUZU (MaraPost) -- Mzuzu University Determination Initiatives Network (DETERIN) in conjunction with the Challenge:Future have taken a step ahead in valuing the Africa Day as they have organized an extraordinary conference which will see distinguished youths from different sectors come together in a bid to discuss Africa’s future.