Court reserves ruling on Mussa’s application

The Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal has reserved ruling on an application by convicted former minister of Homeland Security Uladi Mussa to be released on bail pending hearing and determination of his appeal.

Mussa, through his lawyers Paul Maulidi, Chancy Gondwe and George Kadzakumanja, cites the possibility of his appeal in abuse of office case succeeding. He also cites delays in processing the appeal due to lack of a court quorum as factors to justify his application.

Appearing before Justice of Appeal LovemoreChikopa yesterday, Gondwe asked the court to consider the exceptional and unusual circumstances in the case.

He told the court that Mussa, who is the first appellant in the appeal, was not a technocrat at the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services and was performing his duties just as a minister.

“The process [of issuance of Malawi passports and citizenship] starts at the bottom and the applications went through the system. He was not a technocrat,” said Gondwe.

In its submission, the State, through Anti-Corruption Bureau director of legal and prosecution Chrispin Khunga, asked the court to dismiss Mussa’s application, saying there is no sufficient evidence for the former minister to succeed in his appeal.

After hearing both submissions, Justice Chikopa reserved his ruling to a later date to determine on whether to release Mussa on bail pending hearing and determination of his appeal.