Collins Magalasi has a case to answer for using MERA funds to pay for DPP delegates’ accommodation in 2018

The Lilongwe Senior Resident Magistrate’s Court Thursday found former Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (Mera) chief executive officer (CEO ) Dr Collins Magalasi with a case to answer for allegedly sourcing K10.5 million from Mera to pay for accommodation of Democratic Progressive Party(DPP) delegates at the party’s 2018 convention in Blantyre.

Senior Resident Magistrate, Rodric Michongwe found Magalasi, an accomplished economist, with a case to answer on both counts of fraud and abuse of office which he is answering.

The former Chief economic advisor to former and executive assistant to former president Professor Arthur Peter  Mutharika pleaded not guilty to all the charges levelled against him.

After the ruling, senior assistant State Advocate from the Director of Public Prosecutions ( DPP) chambers, Dziko Malunda expressed satisfaction on the part of the state saying they were happy with the court’s ruling.

Said Malunda: “We hope this case to be concluded soon. So far we are happy and we hope justice will prevail.”

Magalasi’s lawyer Andy Kaonga was not in court for the ruling on His client’s fate in a case in which the state has had paraded seven witnesses.

Magalasi, a well known former ousted ruling party, DPP sympathiser, is suspected to allegedly used MERA funds (public funds) to pay accommodation for DPP delegates who attended the party’s 2018 convention in Blantyre.

Following the ruling, Magalasi is now expected to enter his defence to the court to plead his innocence on the matter.

The state paraded seven witnesses in the case and senior assistant State Advocate from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) chambers, Dziko Malunda, has told the local media that it is now expected that the matter will be concluded soon.

In December last year, Magalasi alongside businesswoman Dorothy Shonga, popularly known as Cash madam on social media platforms, were also found with a case to answer in a case in which they are accused of influencing MERA Internal Procurement and Disposal Committee to award contract to Vink Enterprise, which is allegedly owned by the two.

It is suspected that Vink Enterprises was awarded a K186 million contract for supply of MERA strategic plan booklets as well as branded cloth and T-shirts.

Former MERA public relations officer Patrick Maulidi and procurement officer Bright Mbewe were also found with case to answer.