The Blantyre Senior Resident Magistrate’s Court has dismissed an application by businessman Abdul Karim Batatawala and three others to discharge them from the corruption case they are answering.
Batatawala and the three others wanted the court to discharge them because the state delayed in serving disclosures to the defense.
In his ruling, Senior Resident Magistrate Martin Chipofya dismissed the application saying the case has not reached a state where one can say the matter has been delayed.
Meanwhile, the court has ordered ACB to serve the disclosures by 31st March 2022.
The trial will commence on 25th April 2022.
Reacting to the ruling Martha Chizuma, Director General of ACB said the bureau is happy that the court has agreed with its arguments.
Lawyer for Batatawala Henry Phoya said his client did not want to be acquitted or the case to be dropped.
He said what is clear now is that the state is not ready to try the matter, saying the state should stop arresting people before concluding investigations.
