The High Court in Blantyre has adjourned to Thursday, April 14 the hearing of a corruption case where former President Dr. Bakili Muluzi is accused of misappropriating the sum of K1.7 billion.
Muluzi and his former personal assistant Lyness Whiskey are believed to have diverted donor money into their personal accounts.
Muluzi was initially charged on 80 counts for allegedly siphoning donor funds into his private account.
High Court Judge Maclean Kamwambi adjourned the case to Thursday after Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Deputy Director Reyneck Matemba told the court the second witness, Victor Banda would not be present in the Chamber today (Monday).
Matemba also told the court that Banda, former ACB Deputy Director, has been sick and will be seeing his doctor on Wednesday this week, hence the request to adjourn the case.
Defence lawyers Jai Banda and Tamanda Chokhotho objected, saying the first witness was ready to testify.
But Judge Kamwambe went on to adjourn the case, saying matters of health could not be compromised and that the former Malawi leader is entitled to fair trial just like any other person and adjourned the case to Thursday.
The first witness will testify on Thursday, according to Kamwambe.
Muluzi’s K1.7 billion case commenced in 2009.
Muluzi ruled from 1994 to 2004 as first democratically elected president of the Republic of Malawi.
