Judge Redson Kapindu of the High Court’s Financial Crimes Division has denied applications by Vice President Dr Saulos Chilima to have full access to some key documents from the state in a corruption case Chilima is answering.

Among others, Judge Kapindu says the minutes of the defence council meeting held in 2020 and the memorandum from Malawi Defence Force to President Lazarus Chakwera on the procurement of Armoured Personnel Carriers could not be fully disclosed to the defence as they contain sensitive National security information.

Judge Kapindu also observed that it was premature to determine the relevance of the sought documents as trial is yet to commence.

The Judge has however allowed all the parties in the case to only see copies of the documents under oath and should not be used in defence.