State Prosecutor in the MK1.7 billion corruption case involving former President Dr. Bakili Muluzi and his personal aide Lyness Violet Whiskey has recused himself from the case citing personal reasons.

Reyneck Matemba who is also Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Deputy Director disclosed this when the case resumed at the High Court in Blantyre on Thursday.

The development leaves Imran Saidi as the only state lawyer as Clement Mwala’s contract which expired last week has not been renewed.

In a related development, Muluzi through his lawyer Tamando Chokotho asked the High court Judge Judge Maclean Kamwambi to discharge Muluzi using section 247 (1) of the of the Criminal Procedures and Evidence Code and Section 11 (c) of the Courts Act.

Chokhotho said the Criminal case number 1 of 2009 is facing with a blow seven years down the line “where the future of the matter is uncertain.”
He furhter said it was senseless to proceed with the case when the state had abandoned the case.

Chokotho said Muluzi and his co-accused have been facing “normal ostracism” from the society because of the case but they have all been ermined to vindicate themselves through the courts from any wrong doing.

Delivering the ruling on the matter, Kamwambi said the state has to be heard on May 12.

Since trial resumed on April 11 2016 over K100 million has been deducted from the K1.7 billion Muluzi and his co-accused, Lyness Violet Whiskey, are accused to have fraudulently acquired.