Court quashes warrant which led to arrest of Mpinganjira: ACB says ‘strange legal practice’

A Magistrate Court in Zomba on Wednesday late night quashed an arrest warrant obtained by Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB)  from Lilongwe Magistrate Court against prominent businessman Thomson Mpinganjira, owner of FDH Bank over allegations he tried to bribe judges hearing a legal challenge to the re-election of President Peter Mutharika.

Mpinganjira released from custody and warrant of arrest has been declared by court as void
Matemba: Legally disgusting

Mpinganjira, through his lawyer Frank Mbeta sought a court order quashing the warrant of arrest and the court ruled the warrant was void but  does not specify the reason for the decision.

ACB head Reyneck Matemba expressed shock with the way bureau’s warrant of arrest has been rendered void by mid night court session, saying it is legally disgusting.

Matemba said he was “speechless” with what he called a very strange legal practice for a court to cancel  a warrant of arrest issued by another court and also order release of a suspect in police custody when ACB as a law enforcing agency was acting on a serious complaint.

The court order bears no name of a Magistrate but it is signed and was obtained by lawyers from Mbeta’s legal firm Ritz Law Firm.

“This is  legally disgusting. Abuse of court process and it exposes how rotten the judiciary is,” said Matemba.

He said at around 12:05 midnight he was phone by Chipliro Mpinganjira , a deputy minister of defence and one of the lawyers representing the banker. Around the same time  the acting Inspector General of police Duncan Mwapasa also phoned  about the order which served on police .

Mpinganjira was expected to appear before the court Thursday morning to take plea and be charged following his arrest on Wednesday.

He is a key suspect in the investigations into claims by Chief Justice Andrew Nyirenda that bribes had been offered to the five judges presiding over the case.

In an interview with Nyasa Times, social and governance commentator Makhumbo Munthali said the release of Mpinganjira on bail will be received with mixed reaction by the members of the public who expected him to spend sometime in police cell especially considering a background where opposition leaders or critics of government have spent at least a night in policy custody.

“While Mpinganjira has a right to bail, the timing and his connections to the ruling party will raise suspicion by the public that perhaps the whole arrest of Mpinganjira was a well crafted tactic between ACB and some judicial officials to cool down the public pressure that something was being down when in actual fact it was just window dressing,’’ said Munthali.

“The midnight court bail would also reflect badly on the integrity of the judiciary especially when the timing of such a bail was granted and the sensitivity of the allegations. Already ACB director has not minced words against the judiciary on the matter.

“But then looking at the broader picture whether bail or no bail the very fact that the name of one of the two suspects has been disclosed and that such an individual is closely linked to the ruling party it would reflect badly on one of the accussed parties in the election case,” said Munthali.

The Constitutional Court is expected to rule on the election challenge sometime between January 27 and February 3, its spokeswoman Agnes Patemba.

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MNENERI WA MALAWI
MNENERI WA MALAWI
4 years ago

NEXT WEEK ANTHU AMBIRI AKUMANGIDWA

Kweni
4 years ago

This started with Arafat Nchilima drawing salary without working. This was total corruption musatinyanse an’khwere nonse mukuti fwinfwi fwinfwi. Matemba you are a crook.and a fool. Why didn’t you send warrant of arrest to Nchilima????? If you arrest Mpinganjira, Nchilima should also go in. Spade for Spade,eye for an eye.
TIDULANA ZOKOZERA NDI MABERE CHAKA CHINO. TIVINISANA M’BWIA.
Kuli Jando anganga pa Malawi .

Lhomwe blood
Lhomwe blood
4 years ago
Reply to  Kweni

Just amazed at your mindset… out of the abundance of the heart… the mouth speaketh…. ku DPP ndi satanic ntheradi.

Ineyo
Ineyo
4 years ago
Reply to  Kweni

I think this dude Kweni ought to be taken to task for coming in the open that he is in the business of cutting off breast and urinating organs fro. Fellow human beings. Perhaps he is referring to his party’s business in this country🤪🤪🤪

Drama
Drama
4 years ago

Kodi mkulakwa kunena kuti Malawi has gone to the dogs.

Do we have ant corruption bureau or Corruption Bureau.

Look at all the DPP thieves , murderers walking free and all those who stole chicken are in coolers.

Pathetic. They are constantly being caught red handed but cannot be prosecuted because they are above the law.

A day is coming when Malawi shall be free from all this injustice.

DPP has terrorised Malawians enough.

Those who are supposed to protect the citizens are just as corrupt. The country is rotten. No One to be trusted at all.

chataika
chataika
4 years ago

Kkkkkkkkk Malawi wanga ameneyo kaya akunka kuti? A Chair bwana Muluzi ananena mawu kuti; “matenda ali ndi a Malawi ndi kuyiwala msanga!” Ulemu wanu bwana Muluzi mawu akulu akoma akagonera munanenadi. Tisawone zalero zokha ayi tikatero a Malawi tisokeretsa ana wathu chifukwa they deserve kutsatira zonse bwino lomwe mMalawi muno. All along zakhala izi zikuchitika kutenga unnecessary injunctions usiku ndi usiku so no wonder kuti nayenso Mpinganjira has done the same. HRDC sikale anapita katenga chiletso ndi usiku kuli do! Who came out and made noise? Being partisan muwononga dziko. And let mecaution George Phiri, Lady Mkamanga, Kanyongolo just to… Read more »

Jomicons
Jomicons
4 years ago
Reply to  chataika

People want change because of poor governance and you do not get it on a silver platter.
So stop intimidatory language.. Kuwopyeza in the name of muziganizila za mawa etc

Mtete
4 years ago

And Mpinganjira is walking tall? Shame on you. A deputy minister of defence issues an order, overriding Minister of justice, supported by no other than one who wants to be confirmed as IG? No ways Mwapasa, you won’t make it as IG
A Circus indeed in Malawi.
Incidentally, did the Minister of Defence approve this?

Malawi
Malawi
4 years ago

Matemba dont fool us. Its all orchestrated. You know whats happening. You stayed awake waiting for these dubious calls. You want to look as if u are doing any job. You are as corrupt as your boss and this briber. Malawi is a joke the judiciary is a joke. Do we have real lawyers in Malawi.

BIG MAN
BIG MAN
4 years ago

amutharika akupangila dala izi ndicholinga choyambitsa ziwawa munkhaula mwayaluka by any means chiweluzo tikuchidziwa kale amalawi and we are waiting to cebrate victory and zadziwika kuti ndalama zomwe zimagwira ntchito yaziphuphu ndi ma salaries aphuzitsi mwauponda

HRDC Where are you we are ready to support you fully MPINGANGIRA AKALOWE AND LOYA WAKE AMANGIDWESO PLUS MAGISTRATE WAKUZOMBA WE ARE MALAWI WE PREACH PEACE

Chindere chakufikapo
Chindere chakufikapo
4 years ago

Is it not conflict of interest for a deputy minister drawing taxpayers money to be representing a client facing lawsuit from another executive arm of the government?ie Chipililo Mpinganjira representing Thom Mpinganjira who is facing a lawsuit from ACB which is part of government in which Chipililo Mpinganjira is a minister?

wa Nyau
wa Nyau
4 years ago

i think these guys are playing games with Malawians ,though i dont know the name of the game they are playing.

annsa
annsa
4 years ago
Reply to  wa Nyau

malawians are stupid what do you mean playing games, umphawi uli ku Malawi is because of people on here who talk rubbish i mean HOW DID IT COME ABUT TO HAVE A NATION with over 90% idiots

Mtonga Mwana
Mtonga Mwana
4 years ago

Okay, pakati pa usiku Deputy Minister Mpinganjira called Bwana Matemba za nkhani ya Mpinganjira omangidwa. Then one lawyer wa Mpinganjira kenako, Bwana Mwapasa Acting IG nkuzaimbanso kkkkkkkkk. Interesting koma nzobvuta kumvetsa kwa a layman like me

NACHITHIDZI PALIBE
NACHITHIDZI PALIBE
4 years ago
Reply to  Mtonga Mwana

mmmmmmmm so pity malawi

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