Chilima lawyers pressurise MDF to disclose procurement documents
The High Court, sitting as the Financial Crimes Court has reserved its ruling to a later date in corruption case involving Vice President Saulos Chilima who wants Malawi Defence Force to disclose some procurement documents.
Judge, Redson Kapindu heard arguments from both Chilima’s lawyers and the state, which included attorney general Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda and Anti-Corruption lawyers in chambers, in camera.
State Advocate Neverson Chisiza said the judge has ordered that both parties should formally file their submissions before the court by Friday.
“Considering the sensitivity of the documents, MDF cannot tender them due to security concerns,” Chisiza said.
On his part, one of the lawyers representing Chilima, Bright Theu, said that much as the defence wants to use the documents during the hearing of the case, the State insists that disclosing the contents of the documents could jeopardise national security.
The office of the Attorney General submitted before Kapindu that the MDF will not release the documents as demanded by lawyers for Chilima arguing that the documents contain information bordering on national security.
The court met in camera for almost three hours where both parties submitted their oral arguments.
Defence lawyers Bright Theu indicated that MDF are insisting that sharing the documents would put national security in jeopardy.
Theu however refused to disclose details of the arguments the defence team advanced saying doing so would be pre-emptive of the discussion which was in camera.
