BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-The Senior Resident Magistrate Martin Chipofya on Tuesday, December 21, 2021 granted bail to Indian businessman Abdul Karim Batatawala on corruption charges.
Batatawala being is accused of defrauding Malawi Government of about MK1.5 billion and laundering MK2.5 billion
Batatawala has been ordered to pay bail bond of 800,000 Malawi Kwacha cash, to present surety bonded at MK2.5 Million non-cash and to surrender travel documents.
He has also been ordered to comply with state in any further investigations, not to leave Blantyre without notifying the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and not to interfere with witnesses.
The court has also ruled that Batatawala should be examined by an independent doctor if he falls sick.
On Monday, December 20, 2021 ACB asked the to deny bail to the suspect due to concerns that he may evade trial and that he may employ tactics to delay the case.
Batatawala was arrested last week after the ACB established that the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services awarded a contract to Abdul Karim Batatawala without following procurement procedures.
He was charged with two counts of conspiracy to defraud government about K1.5 billion and money laundering of about K2.1 billion.
The case has been therefore adjourned to January 20, 2022.
