Lawyers from the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA) and Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) are expected to join the K5 billion cementgate case.
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Dr Steven Kayuni informed the court on Monday that the three institutions will be joining the case.
According to Kayuni, this is a law enforcement coordination strategy.
“If you look at this case it touches on tax fraud and this is to do with MRA, money laundering that’s to do with FIA and abuse of office which is to do with ACB so we want to work together” said Kayuni.
Kayuni has further disclosed that the State is planning to parade 33 witnesses. He however said considering time factor the State may parade 15 witnesses.
Without disclosing whether former president Peter Mutharika is among the witnesses or not, Kayuni told the media that he couldn’t come out on that now but mentioned that Mutharika’s statement was taken.
Former President Peter Mutharika’s security aide Nomarn Chisale, Peter Mukhitho former State House staff, Roza Mbilizi former MRA deputy commissioner and business man Shafee Chunara are accused of fraud, money laundering, abuse of office, smuggling and falsifying documents.
They are accused of fraudulently using Taxpayers Identification number (TPIN) belonging to the then President Mutharika to import duty free cement worth k5 billion.
The four were supposed to take plea on Monday before High court Judge Redson Kapindu, but this failed after the defense raised a preliminary objection that the State delayed in serving them the disclosures for the second accused, Chisale.
The matter has since been adjourned to 29 March 2022 for plea and directions.
