Court acquits DPP member Tonny Ngalande over ‘hot cars’ business 

Lilongwe-based politician-cum-businessman Tony Ngalande has  been acquitted by the Lilongwe Magistrate Court over his charges involving  his dealing in hot cars business.

Police arrested Ngalande of ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)  in February 2016 on allegations that he is  involved in cross-border motor vehicle thefts.

However, delivering his ruling on Wednesday, Magistrate Arther Mtalimanja dismissed the case, saying prosecution failed to prove beyond reason doubt on all accounts .

Some of the charges that Ngalande is acquitted includes; bringing in goods acquired wrongly from outside the country.

But the Magistrate maintained that there was no evidence to sustain the prosecution claim.

Ngalande, contesting on PP’s ticket in Balaka North Constituency, lost in the 2014 Parliamentary race to United Democratic Front (UDF) member Lucius Banda.

Speaking to reporters soon after his acquittal, Ngalande said he was happy that the case has been concluded.

“First of all let me thank God for all what has happened. Am very happy that this case has today  been concluded,” said Ngalande.

Ngalande has been on both local police and Interpol watch-list for some time over stolen vehicles from South Africa.

Former PP Administration and Publicity Secretary Ken Msonda, who also defected to DPP,  once described Ngalande as a successful businessman and also a very dedicated Christian.