Court grants bail to Mwanza DC Ngulube, two others: Formally charged

Mangochi First Grade Magistrate Court granted bail to Mwanza district commissioner Jack Ngulube , a businessperson Morrison Mpighu and the procurement officer for Mangochi District Council Michael Khoko who were arrested by Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) for alleged misprocurement.

Ngulube was moved from Mangochi to Mwanza  in Aprial 2016 in a Local Government Ministry reorganisation that saw a number of DC relocating.

He served as Mangochi DC for six months.

But ACB accuse him of  misprocurement of items under the Local Developmenrt Fund (LDF)

Lawyer for the accused, Chancy Gondwe, applied for th bail when they appeared before Mangochi Magistrate Court for formally charges.

“I do confirm that they have been granted bail,” Gondwe told Nyasa Times in an interview.

Gondwe said  the Mwanza DC Ngulube and  procurement officer for Mangochi Khoko are answering charges of ‘misuse of public office’  while the businessman is answering the charge of theft.

He said the matter shall proceed for trial upon the ACB obtaining a  prosecution consent from the Director of Public Prosecution, Mary Kachale.

The court imposed bail conditions that the suspected  be reporting at Blantyre ACB  officer every Monday but as for Nguluwe to be reporting at Mwanza Police.

They have also been ordered to surrender travel documents and not to leave their  districts of residence without seeking permission from the ACB.

According to ACB spokesperson Egrita Ndala, businessperson owns a garage un Mangochi and was arrested Monday on allegations that “he supplied vetiver grass to Mangochi District Council”.

Khoko was arrested on Tuesday.

All accused in the case have denied any wrongdoing.

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