The High Court in Lilongwe has rebuffed an application by Paul Mphwiyo and 18 others for the court to discontinue their K2.4 billion case.

The accused wanted the case to be discontinued because the presiding judge, Esme Chombo, was due for retirement.

But in her ruling on Thursday morning, Chombo dismissed the application, saying she has the necessary documents to continue handling the case.

Mphwiyo and 18 others are answering various criminal charges including money laundering, theft, abuse of office and use of criminal proceeds, among others.

The case was brought before the court in 2015 but actual trial of the matter started in 2017 up to January 2020, when the state paraded over 35 witnesses.

More details to follow..