By Fatsani Gunya
BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-Former President Bakili Muluzi has more reasons to worry over his health after the Supreme Court today dismissed his application to have his MK1.7 billion fraud case discontinued.
The case has now spanned for about 14 years.
The Supreme Court panel consisting of Justices Lovemore Chikopa and Frank Kapanda and was led by Chief Justice Rezine Mzikamanda,dismissed the appeal in its entirety.
The ruling also determined that each party bear its own costs.
Not willing to go down without a fight, Muluzi’s legal team led by lawyers, Tamando Chokhotho and Jai Banda, argued the constitutionality of Section 32 subsection 2 (c) suggesting it infringed on the rights of the accused which rests burden of proof to the accused.
Meanwhile, Attorney General, Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda has said government is pleased with the ruling which, he argued, sets precedence to other corruption cases involving unexplained wealth accumulated by public officers.
Banda has since told the press that Muluzi’s legal team is ready for the criminal trial in the High Court.
In the case, Muluzi is accused of swindling government funds amounting to MK1.7 billion during his tenure which was aimed for construction of a district hospital in Blantyre.
