Magistrate Viva bemoans slowing pace of justice in DPP’s Henry Mussa theft case
Principal Resident Magistrate Viva Nyimba has adjourned the case of former minister of Information Henry Mussa and former director of Information Gideon Munthali accused of stealing computers and gensets – to December 4 2020 but expressed his unhappiness about the way prosecutor is delaying the case.
Nyimba granted the adjournment on Tuesday but expressed concern over the delays saying the suspects have a right to a speedy trial.
He said such adjournments affect progress of the case, saying a criminal case had to be dealt with expeditiously..
The two, who are suspected to have stolen 10 computers and three stand-by power generators when they worked for the Ministry of Information, have been charged with theft by public servant and abuse of office.
The suspects are expected to take plea when the court sits again on December 4.
Mussa’s lawyer Powel Nkhutabasa hoped that the time given will enable the state conclude its work and be ready to prosecute the case.
According to National Police spokesperson James Kadadzera said the suspected stolen equipment was a donation from Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) meant for state-owned Malawi News Agency and is suspected to have gone missing in 2019.
Police say one of the 10 stolen computers has been recovered from Munthali’s house while one of the three generator sets has been recovered from Mussa’s house.
Mussa is an executive member of the erstwhile ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). While, Munthali is journalist, formerly of The Nation Publications.
This case with the current unpreparedness of the prosecutors will drag up to 2030. By that time it will be stale but it won’t be a case study for lawyers who must deal with high level corruption by the top class politicians like Henry Mussa. This case should be a Mzomera type in which evidence is all on the table.
why just say ”former ruling” instead of erstwhile. Editor, don’t you think this is goobledygook. kkkkkkk
Uyutu Mary Kachale satithandiza, she is shielding those who did wrong in the DPP government, work up Tonse government.
Amenewo ndiwo mabodza. This has nothing to do with Mary Kachale. Kachale is a DPP and not a prosecutor and her sole role is to give prosecutors a go ahead or not based on evidence gathered by the investigators and put together by prosecutors. Let those who are tasked with the job of gathering evidence do their jobs with due diligence. Cases are won based on evidence and prosecution and not personal feeling.
She is supposed to be FULLY involved and must wake up otherwise our patience is being tested to the limit…….
So the Director of Public Prosecutions is not a prosecutor!!! Utter nonsense.
Azinka mzimayi ameneyu. Akupanga za Mbuye wache APM, El Chapo and the Democratic Progressive Party thugs. An egocentric, know-it-all, self-righteous individual . Thakati weniweni
At first I thought you were talking about Mary Kachale… 🙉