Lilongwe senior resident magistrate Bracious Kondowe has granted bail to private practice lawyer George Jivason Kadzipatike who surrendered himself to police on Tuesday days after Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) and police searched his office.
Kadzipatike, a Malawi Congress Party (MCP) director of legal affairs and Dowa Kasangazi legislator, appeared in court yesterday and the magistrate granted him bail on condition that he paid a cash bail bond of K2.5 million and provided one surety bonded at K5 million in cash.
However, the lawyer is yet to be formally charged as MRA asked for more time to serve the defence with disclosures.
Following the MRA request, the case, which was initially scheduled for August 17, was adjourned to a date yet to be fixed.
Kondowe said he had no issues with the bail, but directed that the case should be fast-tracked.
Speaking after the court appearance, defence lawyer Jimion Nyanda said the key outcome was enforcement of the bail initially granted when the warrant of arrest was issued.
Kadzipatike had earlier said he was informed that his arrest was related to MRA and tax issues, but that he had not been formally charged.
He has disputed any suggestion that he has failed to comply with his tax obligations, saying MRA has issued him Tax Clearance Certificates every year during his 17 years of practising law.
On Friday, police and MRA officials raided his law offices in Lilongwe and Mzuzu where they confiscated files and personal computers from five lawyers.
Police spokesperson Gladys Chiwaula earlier said police were only keeping Kadzipatike and that MRA was responsible for the matter.
