February 13, 2021 Wanga Gwede- Nyasa Times 12 Comments
Lilongwe magistrate Shyreen Chirwa has refused to recuse herself from former CEO for Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) Collins Magalasi criminal trial, she announced in court Friday.
Magalasi (L) and his lawyer
Magalasi is charged with abuse of office and fraud.
He is accused of abusing the authority of his office. He allegedly paid K10.5 million as accommodation for former ruling DPP officials at Kanjedza Lodge, Oasis Hotel and Heritage Serendib between July and August 2018.
Lawyer Andrew Kaonga representing Magalasi asked the presiding magistrate Chirwa to opt out of the case for alleged bias by among others, refusing the defence lawyer an adjournment on health grounds.
Former Malawi Regulatory Authority (Mera) CEO, Collins Magalasi, is today appearing before the Magistrate’s court in Lilongwe to answer two counts of abuse of office and fraud.
Magalasi is acussed of abusing authority of his office. He allegedly paid K10.5 million as accommodation for former ruling DPP officials at Kanjedza Lodge, Oasis Hotel and Heritage Serendib between July and August 2018.
When the court resumed sitting, Magalasi’s lawyer, Andrew Kaonga, requested for an adjournment saying he suspects that he is Covid-19 positive and needed to go for testing.
But senior Magistrate Shyreen Chirwa, has denied the request saying she is not satisfied with how the plea has been made. Magalasi is now expected to enter plea.
February 5, 2021 Wanga Gwede -Nyasa Times 4 Comments
The Lilongwe Magistrate’s Court has committed to the High Court the the infamous Cementgate case in the alleged importation of cement valued at K5 billion using former president Peter Mutharika’s duty-free privilege.
Mukhito (L) and Mbilizi answering different fraud-related charges ranging from money laundering, abuse of office, falsifying documents with intent to deceive, smuggling, aiding and abetting smuggling.
Senior magistrate Shyreen Chirwa on Friday informed the suspects former State House chief of staff Peter Mukhito, 57; former Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) deputy commissioner general Roza Mbilizi, 52; Norman Chisale, 45; security aide to former president Peter Mutharika and 26-year-old businessperson Mahmed Shafee Chunara that the case has been committed to the High Court.
Lawyer, Chancy Gondwe has asked Lilongwe Magistrate Court to dismiss the current proceedings saying the application by state to commit the case to High Court is misleading.
But the state has dismissed Gondwe’s arguments saying Reyneck Matemba’s contract was on month to month bases and it expired on January 31 and not December 31 as put by Gondwe.
The State further says the defendants team did not do enough research and has wasted Court’s time by telling it that ACB has no acting Director General saying ACB has acting DG.
Further, the state insists the matter was referred procedurally.
February 2, 2021 Owen Khamula - Nyasa Times 1 Comment
The Lilongwe principal magistrate court has finally allowed the State to level new criminal charges against two former powerful cabinet ministers and former public servants in a case bordering on illegal acquiring of government land.
Mchacha (r) and Vuwa Kaunda: Matter committed to High Court for trial
This was after the State prosecutors and the defence legal team battled it out in the morning on whether the court should throw away the case or not.
This is a case involving former Homeland Security deputy minister Charles Mchacha, former minister of Lands Symon Vuwa Kaunda, former chief secretary to government Lloyd Muhara and former ministry of Defence principal secretary Bright Kumwembe.