Mutharika, Muhara escape Sherriff Wrath

“…Settle K69.5m legal cost”

Barely hours after the High Court had ordered to seize and sell property of Former president Peter Mutharika and former Secretary to the President and Cabinet Lloyd Muhara for failing to pay K69.5m legal cost that came after losing a court case, the two have paid in full.

Mutharika opulent mansion in Mangochi

Charles Mhango, lawyer for Mutharika and Muhara has confirmed the development.

Mutharika and Muhara were ordered by the High Court to pay K69,507,461 on March 12 2021 in legal cost in a case where their decisions to send on Chief Justice Andrew Nyirenda and Justice of Appeal Edward Twea leave, pending retirement, were faulted.

A day earlier, the High Court Judge, Justice Kenyatta Nyirenda, sitting in Lilongwe, had ordered the Sheriff of Malawi to seize and sell property belonging to the two in a judicial review case, number 33 of 2020.

The sale of Mutharika and Muhara’s property as first judgement and second judgement debtors, respectively, was meant to recover K22, 070,335.89 to which they were still owing the state after only paying K47,437,125.11 out of the full amount.

The Human Rights Defenders Coalition Limited, Association of Magistrates in Malawi and Malawi Law Society appealing on the order as first, second and third enforcement creditors, respectively, made the application.

Mhango said his clients instructed him to make the payment and he indeed paid a cheque of K22m, while the other amount has been drawn from the bank accounts of Mutharika and Muhara.

On the other hand, Khumbo Soko lawyer for HRDC and Magistrates Association also confirmed that he has indeed received a cheque of K22m.

In an earlier interview after the court’s pronouncement yesterday, Mhango said they were forced to obtain the order to seize assets following failure by the two to pay some money which they didn’t.

Mutharika: Nyekhwe

“We first garnished their bank accounts and now we wanted to collect the assets,” he said.”

Mutharika asked Muhara to send Nyirenda and Twea on leave pending retirement ahead of the court-sanctioned June 23 2020 Fresh Presidential Election.

In the August 28 2020 ruling, the then High Court judge, Charles Mkandawire, now Justice of Appeal, found Mutharika and Muhara on the wrong side of the law for interfering with the role of the Judiciary, saying they had no powers to force the Chief Justice and justice of Appeal or any other judge to go on leave pending retirement.

Former Chief Secretary to the government Lloyd Muhara-pic by Lisa Kadango

Following this ruling, lawyers for HRDC, Association of Magistrates in Malawi and MLS, asked the court to order Mutharika and Muhara to personally pay the costs. The court granted their wish by ordering the two to pay the said sum on March 12 2021. Their application to the court to put aside the execution of order for them to pay costs was also dismissed as Justice Nyirenda observed that it had no merit.

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22 replies on “Mutharika, Muhara escape Sherriff Wrath”

  1. Never worry APM God is with you and we are with you! See now the court has ordered Chakwera to give letters of appointment to your two commissioners who even signed for his(Chakwera’s) victory in 2020. Iwo amawona ngati madolo and think courts shall always be ruling in their favor what a misconception! And this is exactly what will surprise them in 2025 when mighty dpp bounce back onse adzalakalaka kuthawa in this country sikaletu 2025 tiwona!

  2. Those who have received this money it’s a curse on them. You get money from innocent. May the LORD punish all those who conspired against APM…tme will tell . APM dont worry God is with you and fighting for you.. curse on all those involved in the victimization of APM. You cant celebrate over this unless you are evil minded . Hrdc watch out God will punish you .unless you repent .

  3. Well done APM and Justice Muhara. So long as your God and spirits of your ancestors are are alive, Justice Nyirenda alangidwa posachedwa, myelin itatu itsanathe.

  4. I forever doubt that this judgement was in any way objective rather penalizing Mutharika for messing with them as Judiciary, just that ego. Objectivity would involve not favoring oneself if you find yourself yourself that your family was offended. Unfortunately there is no any other option.

  5. Kukolola pamene sunalime. Covid-19 ikugwira suzidya. That’s my prayer
    Malawi a written state. Nanga Ndege ya joyce why not followup????? Malawi will never develop. Koma atumbuka ena,worse than Idie Amin

  6. Why ru busy with Peter Muthalika whilst the Country Economy is going haywire musiyeni munthu apume Know that u cannot finish Dpp it’s a National party

  7. Thank you Gentlemen, life is more important than anything. Congratulations!!!! May God give you more grace!!!!

  8. Wasn’t Bingu Jnr’s account frozen?? Zina anazibisa kuti? This dude is a very crooked fellow. Since coming back from so-called exile, he’s filled his scorecard with every crime he could think of. Even his spouse and bodyguards were in on the crimes; they, too, grabbed everything they could lay their hands on, especially government vehicles. Mxii!

  9. Have other judges gone on holiday. It appears all cases involving DPP are being handled by Tumbukas

  10. Was the money used to pay the courts, declared for Tax purposes. Was it Tax paid. Investigatre please.

  11. Munayenera kutero basi.Anthu ataya abale awo cifukwa chosowa mankhwala muzipatala inu kumazikundikira ndalama. mubwenza zonse.

    A boma tafukulani mirandu yina anthu awa alindi ndalama. ABOMA ZIKOMO CIFUKWA CHA NTCHITO YABWINO ABWENZE BASI

  12. Reaping where you did not sow. God is watching and soon you will regret to have received the money. Wait and see.

  13. I believe they didn’t “escape” per se, all they did was to try to be “civil”. The heading is misleading when you come to learn about the context of the information being dissemited. Unfortunately, being Malawi, everything goes, depending on which side of the fence one is standing.

  14. Atumbuka in the courts this is your time but remember mcp is usibg you and the chickens will come to roost very soon.

  15. What have we benefited as a country? How many days are remaining for the chief justice; army commander and others to serve before retirement. It’s time for them to go.

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