Former Cabinet minister Patricia Kaliati yesterday pleaded not guilty to a charge of conspiring to assassinate President Lazarus Chakwera.
Both State prosecutor in the case Levison Mangani and private practice lawyer Khwima Mchizi, one of the lawyers representing Kaliati, confirmed the plea in separate interviews yesterday.
Mchizi said the matter came before Lilongwe chief resident magistrate Austin Banda yesterday. It was initially before principal resident magistrate Roderick Michongwe.
He saidi: “The matter came for plea and directions. So, Kaliati has formally been charged and has pleaded not guilty to the charge of conspiracy to murder President Chakwera.
“She appeared before His Worship Austin Banda today. Start of the trial has been set for 28th of April 2025.”
On the other hand, Mangani said despite the fact that Kaliati’s two co-accused are still at large, the State will proceed with her case.
He said: “We already served disclosures with defence. Those two are still at large and we are still proceeding with Patricia Kaliati. So the State is ready with the case.”
Kaliati, one of the advisers to UTM Party president Dalitso Kabambe, was arrested last October in Lilongwe.
A charge sheet in court that time indicated that she and two others, who are at large, namely Joseph Odala and Frank Chinedu, between March 2024 and June 2024, allegedly conspired to assassinate the President.
