On Friday, the Financial Crimes Division of the High Court will deliver its ruling on the preliminary objections made by State Vice President Saulos Chilima in his ongoing corruption trial.
Chilima is accused of demanding and receiving an unspecified amount of money from businessman Zunneth Sattar to influence the award of contracts to Sattar’s firms.
Chilima’s defense lawyers are requesting council minutes that allegedly authorized the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) to enter into a contract with Sattar’s firms to supply military equipment. The defense lawyers want to review these documents to strengthen their case.
The Financial Crimes Court Judge, Redson Kapindu, is expected to deliver his ruling on whether the MDF should release the requested documents to Chilima’s lawyers.
The Attorney General (AG), Thabo Chakaka-Nyirenda, appeared before the court in October 2020 on behalf of the MDF to make representations against the release of the documents.
The AG chambers’ deputy director of civil litigation, Neverson Chisiza, later stated in an interview that the MDF is against releasing the documents because they contain information related to national security.
