BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)—Lawyers for business tycoon Thomson Mpinganjira have withdrawn a case at the Supreme Court of Appeal, in which they were seeking a suspension of hearing the Mpinganjira’s bribery case from High court.
One of the Mpinganjira’s lawyers, Tamando Chokotho said his client wanted the case to be tried back at the Magistrate court, where it was committed from by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).
Supreme Court justice Edward Twea who was hearing the case has since directed the High court to commence hearing of the case forthwith.
Meanwhile, the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB ) and Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) are claiming costs incurred in the suspension application case.
Mpinganjira is accused of attempting to offer MK100 Million to five judges who presided over the historical presidential election case.
However, his case was committed from the Magistrate Court to the High Court for trial.
Mpinganjira’s lawyers wanted the matter to be moved to the Magistrate Court because the certificate of committal by the Director of Public Prosecution did not give any reason for the transfer.
The defense also wanted to be given a chance to appeal at the High Court and Supreme Court of Appeal if Mpinganjira is not satisfied with the judgment by the Magistrate Court.
ACB Director Reyneck Matemba is on record to have accused Mpinganjira of trying to delay the case.
ACA arrested Mpinganjira in January this year after Chief Justice Andrew Nyireda tipped the graft busting body that someone wanted to bribe the five judges who heard the presidential election case as a Constitutional Court to rule in favour of the then ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
