SA businessperson getsbail on sixth attempt

Blantyre Magistrate’s Court has granted bail to businessperson William Bilderberg on his sixth application after spending 101 days in custody as the State probed his alleged money laundering activities.

Blantyre principal resident magistrate Godfrey Balaka granted bail to Bilderberg, who was arrested alongside seven other co-accused persons, on condition that he pays K5 million cash bond, provide three sureties of K1 million non-cash bond each and surrender his travel documents.

“The accused person must also surrender all his travelling documents and should be reporting to South West Police Region headquarters every Friday,” said the magistrate.

The court’s decision followed an application by Bilderberg through his lawyers to release him on court bail as the 101 days he has been in custody is not recommended.

In his oral submission, one of Bilderberg’s lawyers Felix Tambulasi said  the offence of money laundering, which was perceived as the most serious, had been withdrawn by the State and that the remaining three counts are minor.

The counts are furnishing false information, illegal entry into Malawi and false declaration of a Malawian passport.

Said Tambulasi: “The accused person has a place in Blantyre where his wife and daughter live. He has surrendered all his travelling documents and is ready to present reliable sureties who are Malawians. Further incarceration of the accused person will be like a punishment.”

The State led by chief State advocate Josephine Gwaza did not object to the defence’s application for bail.

Earlier in the morning, the State notified the court that one count of money laundering had been removed from the charge sheet and asked the court to discharge Edward Phambala who was the second accused in the matter. The magistrate freed Phambala.  

The matter has since been adjourned to February 13 2024 when the court is expected to start a full trial.

The State previously opposed Bilderberg’s bail application on five occasions.

The court rejected Bilderberg’s applications as the State argued that his past record as a fugitive from justice and possession of a South African passport made him a big flight risk.

In the fourth bail ruling dated December 15 2023, chief resident magistrate Chisomo Msokera, who was presiding over the case, rejected the application and condemned the State and Bilderberg’s lawyers for allegedly acting in a manner that “may undermine justice”.

Despite initial indications that he was on Interpol’s wanted list, Malawi issued him a passport shortly after his arrival.

He is accused of orchestrating a Ponzi scheme that allegedly defrauded several individuals in countries such as Venezuela, Botswana and Tanzania.

National Police spokesperson Peter Kalaya is on record as having said that the local law enforcers were in touch with Interpol, the international criminal police organisation that facilitates worldwide police cooperation and crime control.