Chizuma plea taking pushed to February
Chizuma-excused herself due to other official duties
The Chief Resident Magistrate court in Lilongwe has adjourned to the 8th of February plea taking for Martha Chizuma in a case where she is being sued by two individuals injured by a leaked phone conversation.
The hearing was initially slated for Thursday but was shifted to today.
The adjournment came following Chizuma’s absence, as she was reportedly in Blantyre attending to other official business.
State Prosecutor Levison Mangani expressed surprise over Chizuma’s absence stating that she was served with the court subpoena earlier, which she complained was short notice.
According to one of Chizuma’s legal representatives, Powell Nkhutabasa, the summon was served by the State at a time Chizuma was already in Blantyre hence her absence in court.
Speaking in an interview after the adjournment, Nkhutabasa has expressed confidence that his side will have gotten all the paper work ready for the case come February 8th.
“We just want to appreciate the nature of the case that the state has against the accused person, so that we can guide the accused person on how to plead,” Nkhutabasa said.
This is the fourth time Chizuma has been summoned over the leaked phone conversation, after a private citizen Frighton Phompho failed in his plea for the court to open a case against the ACB chief for violating her oath of office.
Business associate to corruption suspect Zuneth Sattar, Ashok Nair also sued Chizuma over contents of the said audio, on allegation of bribery surrounding the release of Kumar after he had been arrested.
Recently fired Director of Public Prosecution Steven Kayuni also ordered the controversial arrest of Chizuma over the same audio in December last year.
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