Muluzi case back in court: Co-accused discharged from hospital but not fit
Former President Bakili Muluzi high profile K1.7 billion corruption case returns to court on Tuesday after it suffered a devastating blow Monday following the collapse of one of the prosecution witnesses in court.
Violet Whiskey, who was taken ill in court in the ongoing Muluzi case has since been discharged from Blantyre Adventist Hospital.
But she is not fit and well to return to the dock.
Her lawyer Jai Banda said Whiskey was discharged Monday evening but will need to recuperate at home before attending court sessions.
Judiciary spokesperson Mlenga Mvula said the case will go on even with Whiskey not available as other witnesses will now be called.
Whiskey collapsed in court soon after entering the witness box. She started gasping and later collapsed before she was rushed to hospital.
Judge Maclean Kamwambe said he wants to see to it that the 11 year old historic case should last for just two weeks and he is hardly entertaining adjournments.
Muluzi and Whiskey are facing charges as former president was in possession of “pecuniary resources” amounting to K1 740 166 712. 32 which the state suspected to have been corruptly acquired wanted a reasonable explanation in relation to the amount.
So far over K100 million has been deducted from the K1.7 billion as there was no indication it was corruptly acquired.
The money was deposited into Muluzi’s account between March 4 1999 and July 21 2001 by Ntaja Trading and Distributors (the former president’s company), Loita Investment Bank (from fixed deposit) and Kalaria Wholesalers, amounting to K20 million.
In charging Muluzi, the state claimed the money was from donors. It is yet to be seen if the rest of the money came from Malawi donors into Muluzi’s personal account.
The defence led by private practice lawyer Tamanda Chokhotho argued that in investigating Muluzi, the State deliberately excluded other sources of income such as Ntaja Trading and Distributors which was making a monthly turnover of more than K1 billion, Keza Properties and Atupele Properties
Chokotho said the defence will have to “make calculations” , which will be done at the time they are making submissions in order to know the exact amount struck off from the K1.7 billion, saying they are going through “transaction by transaction ” and pointed out that at the end of the trial, they may not have any figure at all.
Whiskey was Muluzi’s personal assistant from 1994 to 2004 during the former president’s president’s tenure of office as the first president in democratic Malawi.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
inenso mukadzandigwira, ndidzakomoka katatu, and you better treat me like a boss.
What judge Kamwambe has said is what is supposed to be said by judges in the cashgate cases. The govt lost billions of Kwachas. There are over 50 cases but the judges are allowing one case to drag for 2-3 years when Malawians are suffering as a result of cashgate. The president or parliament will do Malawians good if it gives a timeframe for cashgate cases to be concluded.