Bakili wrongfully arrested

Bakili wrongfully arrested Former president Bakili Muluzi and former assistant Lyness Whiskey was wrongfully arrested and taken to court, his defence lawyer says.Muluzi and Whiskey are accused of mismanaging public funds amounting to K1.7 billion from 1994 to 2005.During cross examination of the first state witness Victor Banda, the defence lawyer Tamanda Chokotho argued that Muluzi’s assets could generate more money than the amount of cash the state accuses the former president of stealing.Chokhoto mentioned several assets including Ntaja Tradings and Chitsime Drilling Company that belonged to the former president’s first wife Annie Muluzi.The defence lawyer further argued that “It was wrong” for the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to arrest his client on claims that he failed to explain the whereabouts of the money which had been deposited in his personal accounts.According to Chokotho, his client had a right not to give a word on his money which had been deposited in his accounts, arguing that the constitution gives him that right.Speaking in an interview with worldnews website , ACB deputy director Reyneck Matemba said Muluzi was arrested because he failed to provide an explanation about the money in his account.“When a person has been asked questions you are supposed to answer, and the accused failed to answer and this brought suspicion and our laws states that if a person fails to explain about his assets he can be dragged to court, those laws were not made by ACB neither the witness,” said Matemba.Matemba added that ACB will push for justice to prevail in the case.Meanwhile High court Judge MacLean Kamwambe has adjourned the case to Friday 15.Muluzi’s case began over 10 years ago and the courts have been failling to conclude it due to the suspect’s health condition.