Chilima’s bail application variation hearing set for July 19 – Capital Radio Malawi
10 February, 2025

Chilima’s bail application variation hearing set for July 19

The financial crimes court sitting in Lilongwe on Monday adjourned to 19 July the case in which vice president Saulos Chilima is accused of getting kickbacks to influence the award of government contracts to foreign companies.

On that day, the court will start hearing Chilima’s application for bail variation where he wants to stop reporting to the ACB as well as to have his travel documents back.

In his preliminary ruling on Monday, Presiding Judge Redson Kapindu also ordered the state to furnish the defence with all witness disclosures with 21 days.

Meanwhile, the defence team is accusing the state of incompetence following its failure to timely make disclosures despite arresting the VP last November.

Defence counsel Khumbo Soko describes the prosecution’s action as a sign that it is not ready to start prosecuting the case.

“It has come as a shock to us to observe that the State appears not to be ready with the evidence which makes us to question as to why they rushed to arrest the Vice President. It is quite clear that they are not ready with the case.” Soko said.

Meanwhile, lead prosecutor from the ACB, Chrispin Khunga, is faulting the defence for raising issues which were not scheduled for discussion in court.

“We came here for plea and directions hearing but our colleagues objected arguing they want disclosures first. But that is not what the law provides.” The ACB lawyer wondered.

Chilima was arrested in November last year for allegedly accepting money amounting to $280,000 from a British businessman Zuneth Sattar in exchange for awarding government contracts.

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