“Lin Yinhua could transact businesses, visit private apartment without handcuffs while in prison”-Two witnesses testify in corruption case

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The High Court in Lilongwe on Wednesday, May 13, 2026 commenced fully corruption trial involving Wildlife crime convict Lin Yinhua when the state paraded two witnesses against him.

The Chinese wildlife convict Yunhua is answering five charges including an attempt to bribe prison and judicial officers while in cell.

One of the witnesses, Madalitso Chifomboti, told the court that Lin, while serving his jail sentence in 2023, was escorted by prison warders to visit a certain house at Area 9 in Lilongwe without wearing prison attire and without handcuffs, as is supposed to be the case.

Echoing the same, another witness Gift Shella told the court that in 2022, the suspect Yinhua could be out of the Maula Prison to go to transact business for his maize field.

“My Lord, Lin could be escorted to Kanengo to buy maize seeds for his field without prison uniform or handcuffs and come back into prison cell,” testifies Shella.

State Prosecutor from the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Peter Sambani disclosed that the state has 15 to 19 witnesses to testify against Lin Yinhua in the case.

Sambani added that the state is ready with all witnesses while finalising paper work as requested by the court before another date of hearing is set.

The Prosecutor believes that in the next session the state will be able to parade atleast four witnesses in a day to conclude their case.

Therefore Justice Redson Kapindu adjourned the case to a later date that will be communicated to both parties.

Yinhua was arrested soon after the Presidential pardon and was denied bail.

The Wildlife crime convict is alleged to have managed to bribe prison officers to allow him a life out of prison while serving his sentence.

The Chinese National is also suspected of attempting to offer a 30 million kwacha bribe to the presiding judge of his wildlife crime for a lenient sentence through the prison officer.

Lin who was serving a 14-year jail term after being convicted of wildlife crimes spent only 4 years in prison after securing a Presidential pardon in 2025.