The High Court of Malawi’s financial criminal division Judge Violet Chipawo has rejected an application by former Escom board chairperson Jean Mathanga and three others who wanted their K4 billion corruption case restarted.
Mathanga, John Kandulu, former director of procurement Fanuel Nkhono and senior procurement manager Emmilius Kandapo are accused of flouting procurement procedures at the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom).
Following the appointment of Justice Sylvester Kalembera sa Justice of Appeal, the case was transferred to Chipawo, a move which prompted the accused to apply for the restart of the trial.
However, in her ruling delivered on Thursday, Chipawo said the case would continue from where it stopped in 2021.
She said that all the court records are intact and that transcription of the previous proceedings is underway.
Mathanga, is answering charges of giving false information contrary to Section 14 (10)(a) of the Corrupt Practices Act (CPA) and neglect of official duty contrary to Section 121 of the Penal Code.
She is further accused of giving false information to ACB on April 18 2017 during investigations into misprocurement of goods worth about K4 billion.
Nkhono and Kandapo are answering one charge each of abuse of office contrary to Section 25B(1) of the Corrupt Practices Act.
Kandulu, among others, is alleged to have used his influence as chief executive officer on former director of finance Betty Mahuka to perform her duties and discharge her functions corruptly.
