The High Court of Malawi Financial Crimes Division says it will rule on July 10 2025 whether former Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) board chairperson Jean Mathanga and three others have a case to answer.
Presiding Judge Violet Chipao set the date yesterday after completion of hearing the case in which Mathanga, former Escom chief executive officer John Kandulu, former director of procurement Fanuel Nkhono and former senior procurement manager Emmilius Kandapo are accused of flouting some procurement procedures.
yesterday. | Jonathan Pasungwi
Giving direction after the State through the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) concluded parading its witnesses, the judge ordered the defence to make final submissions by June 9 2025.
She also ordered the State to file its response to defence’s submissions by June 17 before delivering a ruling on whether the accused persons have a case to answer on July 10 2025.
The dates followed a request by Kandulu’s lawyer Chimwemwe Kalua that the defence be given at least 60 days to file its final written submissions.
Said Kalua: “This case started in 2021 and we surely need some time to organise ourselves.”
In his response, ACB director of legal and prosecutions Victor Chiwala objected the prayer saying at least 30 days will be enough for the defence to file final submissions.
But Kalua maintained his position.
Earlier yesterday, ACB paraded one of Escom suppliers David Dula as the State’s final witness.
Mathanga is accused of giving false information to ACB on April 18 2017 during investigations into misprocurement of goods worth about K4 billion.
Nkhono and Kandapo are answering charges of abuse of office contrary while Kandulu, among others, is alleged to have abused influence as CEO to make former Escom director of finance Betty Mahuka perform her duties and discharge her functions corruptly.
