K370m gold suspect case deferred
The Lilongwe Magistrate’s Court yesterday adjourned to a later date the case involving Moinuddian Mohamed Iqbar Sodagar who was expected to take plea for various charges levelled against him.
Sodagar, a 37-year-old Indian national, was arrested on December 30 2016 at Kamuzu International Airport after being found in possession of foreign currency equivalent to K494 million and gold bars worth about K370 million.
The Nation has established that magistrate Patrick Chirwa, who was assigned the case, is out of the country; hence the case could not proceed.
Speaking in an interview at the court yesterday, Wapona Kita, lawyer representing Sodagar, confirmed the development.
He said: “Much as we would have liked for this case to be set in motion, we understand the situation and these things happen. Therefore, as it is, we will just wait for communication from the court on a new date.”
During the first court appearance, Sodagar’s other lawyer, Ishmael Wadi, told the Lilongwe Magistrate’s Court that his client wanted to plead guilty on some of the charges levelled against him pursuant to Section 252 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Code.
