Fuel deals case fails to resume

The Lilongwe Chief Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday failed to resume hearing of a fuel import contracts case because High Court of Malawi Judge Patrick Chirwa, wearing his previous hat, had other engagements.

In a telephone interview yesterday, defence lawyer George Mtchuka Mwale said they received communication that Chirwa, who started hearing the matter before his appointment as judge, was preoccupied with other meetings.

“We received a communication from the judge’s clerk that the hearing will not proceed as the judge has other meetings. The next date of hearing is yet to be communicated,” he said.

Yesterday, the defence was expected to start cross-examining key State witness Helen Buluma, a former National Oil Company of Malawi (Nocma) deputy chief executive officer and acting CEO.

In the case, former minister of Energy Newton Kambala, former presidential aide Chris Chaima Banda and Alliance for Democracy president Enock Chihana are accused of attempting to influence a public officer in the procurement of fuel contrary to the Corrupt Practices Act.

Last year, the judge set May 27, 28, 30, 31 and June 1 and 2 for the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to parade all its witnesses in the case.

Buluma concluded her testimony on May 31 and the defence requested for an adjournment purportedly because they were not ready to cross-examine the witnesses at the time.

Buluma will be cross-examined on her testimony which includes a telephone recording that was played in court.

In the audio, Buluma and Chaima-Banda had a conversation in which the former presidential aide is quoted as having said that President Lazarus Chakwera had settled for a company called Finergy to be one of the suppliers of fuel to Nocma.

ACB spokesperson Egrita Ndala was yet to respond to our questionnaire by press time at 9pm.