ZOMBA-(MaraviPost)-The country’s civil rights groups have emphasised the need for the general public to desist from interfering judicial process regarding to UK indictment on businessman Zuneth Sattar.
According to a press statement issued on Friday, June 6, 2025, signed by the grouping chairperson Sammy Aaron and made available to The Maravi Post is against inflammatory or unsubstantiated demands that weaken the due process of the legal proceeding on the matter.
The appeal comes amid demands from some quarter of the society who are demanding public officers named in the matter while Malawi authorities dropped the case last year including the late Vice President Saulos Chilima.
Reads the statement in part, “We, the undersigned civil society organizations in the Eastern Region, have observed with growing alarm the intensified calls for the immediate prosecution of Malawian nationals referenced in the UK’s indictment of Mr. Zuneth Sattar.
“While we stand firmly against corruption and support the pursuit of accountability, we believe that any decision to prosecute must be grounded in credible, admissible evidence gathered in accordance with Malawian law and established international cooperation protocols—rather than driven by foreign indictments or public pressure”.
The grouping observes, “Under Section 42 of the Constitution of the Republic of Malawi, every person accused of a crime is entitled to the presumption of innocence until a competent court delivers a guilty verdict. This fundamental right includes fair trial guarantees, legal representation, and protection from arbitrary or politically motivated prosecutions. These protections apply uniformly, whether or not an individual is involved in parallel proceedings abroad.
“It is important to clarify that none of the public officers named in the UK indictment are themselves charged in that jurisdiction; their names appear solely in relation to Mr. Sattar’s trial. UK prosecutorial practice does not require these individuals to be summoned as state witnesses—rather, their alleged involvement exists only on paper”.
The statement adds, “By contrast, under Malawian procedure, if those same recordings or “evidence” were to be used here, each officer would have to confirm on oath whether the audio clips are their own and testify to the context in which they were made. This additional step is essential to ensure authenticity and protect against misrepresentation.
“We are especially troubled by efforts to reinitiate charges against persons who have already been discharged lawfully under the Corrupt Practices Act after fulfilling restitution obligations and cooperating fully with investigators”.
Aaron observes further, “Once a matter has been resolved under that statute, any attempt to pursue the same allegations—absent new, compelling evidence—would violate the constitutional bar against double jeopardy. Likewise, those currently standing trial in Malawian courts must not be subject to renewed public calls for prosecution; such pressure risks tainting the judicial process, prejudicing their right to a fair hearing, and encouraging arbitrary decision-making.
“Additionally, for foreign-obtained evidence to be admitted in our courts, it must meet strict Malawian evidentiary standards: proper authentication, opportunity for cross-examination, and full compliance with the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Code”.
The grouping states that reliance on unverified UK materials—without independent corroboration, chain-of-custody assurances, or domestic oversight—would almost certainly fail the admissibility threshold and undermine defendants’ rights.
Aaron urgues, “We appeal to political parties, the media, civil society, and all stakeholders to refrain from inflammatory or unsubstantiated demands that weaken due process.
“The struggle against corruption must remain impartial, fact-based, and free from political maneuvering. Invoking public outrage in place of solid legal foundations only erodes confidence in our institutions and endangers the rule of law”.
The grouping concludes, “Finally, we call upon the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to discharge its responsibilities with utmost professionalism and strict adherence to constitutional norms. The ACB must investigate allegations thoroughly, pursue prosecution only on the basis of legally sound evidence, and safeguard its independence from undue influence.
“Upholding fairness and justice is essential to preserving the integrity of Malawi’s democratic system and maintaining public trust in the electoral and governance process”.