The High Court in Lilongwe has dismissed with costs an application  that former president Peter Mutharika and former secretary to president and cabinet Lloyd Muhara filed to review the K69.5million costs that they were ordered to pay in relation to their decision to send judges on leave pending retirement.

The two have been further ordered to pay K2.3million within 30 days.

Mutharika and Muhara were earlier faulted by the High Court in Lilongwe for writing Chief Justice Andrew Nyirenda and Justice Edward Twea to go on leave pending retirement.

The Malawi Law Society, Human Rights Defenders Coalition and Association of Magistrates in Malawi, who dragged Mutharika and Muhara to court for sending judges on leave pending retirement, asked the court to have the two personally pay the costs of the case after the court faulted Mutharika and Muhara for interfering with roles of judiciary.

The two were ordered to pay K69.5million, which they paid.

However the two sought review of the costs arguing the money was on the higher side and some processes were not met.