The Director General of Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Reyneck Matemba has described decision by the magistrate to cancel warrant of arrest of business mogul Thom Mpinganjira as shocking and abuse of office.

“This is disgusting. Abuse of court process. It exposes how rotten the judiciary is,” Matemba said.

The First Discount House (FDH) boss Mpinganjira was arrested yesterday by the Anti-Grafting body in connection with the attempt to bribe Constitutional Court Judges hearing the presidential election case.

According to Matemba, he received a phone call from the Acting Inspector General of Police Duncan Mwapasa being told of the order to release the business tycoon from police.

Matemba added that he was phoned to be served court orders from Zomba Magistrate Court at 12.05 midnight by Mr Chipiliro Mpinganjira, one of the lawyers representing Thom Mpinganjira.

The Order quashes the earlier warrant of arrest obtained by ACB from Lilongwe Magistrates Court but does not specify the reasons for the decision. ACB says this is a very strange legal practice.