No evidence of corruption in Malawi ex-president Muluzi K1.1bn: ‘Prosecution should not amount to persecution’

Malawi  former president Bakili Muluzi did not obtain money mounting to more than K1.1 billion ($1.5 million) corruptly, former assistant director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Victor Banda, who is the state princial witness, told the High Court in Blantyre.

Muluzi, who governed Malawi from 994 to 2004,  and his former secretary, Lyness Whiskey, are accused of misappropriating money amounting to K1.7 billion ($2.4 million) .

But Banda, who also headed investigations of Muluzi case, testified that he had no credible evidence that Muluzi corruptly obtained during his reign.

Muluzi  deposited into his personal local bank accounts, mainly at National Bank Zomba Branch the money came from companies in Libya, Kingdom of Morocco, Belgium, United States of America (USA), South Africa, Rwanda and Taiwan—principal benefactor with about K689 million.

Malawi government suspected  Muluzi obtained the money corruptly and that he diverted donor funds.

But , the principal State witness also failed to substantiate corruption claims in the dealings of Muluzi’s personal bank accounts, saying the Taiwanese ambassador ruled out corruption on the money that was donated to Muluzi when he was interviewed by ACB.

Muluzi lawyers, Jai Banda and Tamanda Chokhotho,  have since asked Justice Maclean Kamwambe to order the prosecution team to review their charge sheet saying most of the counts against the former president have no evidence.

“The prosecution should  not  to amount persecution,” said Chokhotho.