Embattled Justice Minister who was once described as a mafia by fallen head of state Bingu wa Mutharika, Ralph Kasambara, has engaged the government in a battle over the call logs of businessman Oswald Lutepo whom he accuses of intimidation in the June of this year.

According to reports, Kasambara yesterday moved the Magistrates court in Blantyre to be provided with the call logs for businessman Oswald Lutepo from both Airtel Malawi Limited and TNM Limited.

The court consented and gave the two companies five hours to meet Kasambara’s demand but before the expiry of the five hours, government through the Director of Public Prosecution, Bruno Kalemba, moved in to challenge the issue and thereby derail the order given by the court.

The development has raised eyebrows as to why it is the government and not the legal representatives of the two companies respectively that should have gone to court to defend the demand by Kasambara.

Meanwhile, the court is yet to decide after the challenge by Kalemba.

In 2012, the Malawi government purchased what was termed as the ‘controversial spy machine’ that was to be used by MACRA to monitor, among other things, phone calls. However, this decision was challenged by Kasambara among other people in court and their wishes prevailed.

This year, however, Parliament approved the use of the spy machines.