Lawyers fined for ‘improper dressing’ during cashgate trial

Three lawyers representing Sibonile Thawani who is accused of pocketing over K80 million from government without supplying any goods or services were on Wednesday fined K10,000 each; for improper dressing during a court hearing presided over by High Court Judge Ivy Kamanga.

The defense team led by Chancy Gondwe was fined at the end of hearing session at which the state represented by kamdoni Nyasulu paraded three witnesses before the court.

“Are you one part of the defense team?” Kamanga asked one of the defense lawyers before she went on to question him if he had undergone the normal five-year University College law training.

“Yes my Lady” answered the lawyer before Kamanga fined them K10,000 each for improper dressing.

The lead defense lawyer Chancy Gondwe told Malawi News Agency (Mana) in an interview that it is the custom for counsel to be in a white shirt and lawyers’ neck tie when appearing in court.

“The custom is that we put on a white shirt and white neck tie which obviously we did not and that’s why we have been fined,” he said.

The case has since been adjourned to a later date.

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