Jumbe, Bwanali risk bail revocation

State lawyer Gabriel Chembezi has indicated to defence lawyers handling the K11 million suspected fraud case involving two former Cabinet ministers that their clients risk bail revocation.

Former minister of Finance Friday Jumbe, former Sports and Culture minister Phillip Bwanali and chairperson of the Sports and Culture Trust Fund Vincent Mpaluko were found with a case to answer on the charges ranging from theft by public servant, misuse of office and gross negligence by a public officer to obtaining money by false pretence.

The case, which was supposed to enter defence in April, was further delayed with applications by defence lawyers who asked the then chief resident magistrate (CRM) ChifundoKachale (now High Court judge) to recuse himself. He, however, refused, saying the law allows him to preside over any case.

During the last court sitting two weeks ago, defence lawyer Maxwell Tembo, who replaced Manuel Theu, asked for 30 days to prepare, a request that displeased the State.

The State then asked for bail revocation.

Due to this, the defence then told the court they would proceed with the case and, after 30 minutes, they put Jumbe in the stand.

Jumbe told the court that he was an expert in economy matters and would not, in any way, steal public money.

The case, which dates back to 2004, has been adjourned to January 11 2016.