Africa-Press – Malawi. By Isaac Salima:
The Blantyre Senior Resident Magistrate Court Thursday released on bail Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) spokesperson Shadric Namalomba and UTM patron Noel Masangwi.
The two have also been formally charged on charges bordering on abuse of public office, misuse of public office and conspiracy to commit a felony.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau arrested Namalomba on Wednesday over illegal exportation of hardwood logs.
Thursday morning, Masangwi was invited to ACB offices in Blantyre for questioning where he was also arrested in connection with the matter.
Senior Resident Magistrate Asunta Maxwell read the charges levelled against the two.
The State, represented by ACB prosecutor Michael Kalonga and Levie Manjawira, told the court that they were not ready to commence the case and asked for 14 days to serve the defence with disclosures.
Lawyers for Namalomba, who is the first accused in the case, Luciano Mickeus, Chancy Gondwe and Felix Tambulasi—and also Edward Zimphonje, representing the second accused, namely Masangwi—asked for bail since the State was not ready with disclosures.
The State did not object to the bail application, prompting Maxwell to grant the defence its wish.
Maxwell ordered the two to each pay a cash bond of K1 million, non-cash sureties of K2 million, submit their travel documents to ACB and that they should be reporting to ACB offices every fortnight.
Namalomba, who was then working as customs and excise official at the Malawi Revenue Authority, is accused of using his position to facilitate the release and exportation of banned hardwood logs in contravention of the Ministry of Trade’s 2008 ban of the export of such timber products.
It is alleged that he facilitated the unlawful transfer and warehousing of banned Mukula logs to Elvis Freight and Cargo Services Limited, a facility linked to businessperson Masangwi.
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