By Brenda Kayo:
Mzuzu Principal Resident Magistrate Clemence Chamwenda Thursday granted bail to Mzimba North Constituency Member of Parliament for Alliance for Democracy (Aford) Yeremia Chihana.
The politician was arrested in Blantyre on Tuesday by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) over abuse of office and failure to declare interest.
He appeared in court Saturday.
ACB Principal Legal and Prosecutions Officer, Daniel Nyasulu said the legislator was facing two counts of abuse of office and one count of failing to declare interest.
It is alleged, in all the counts, that the money that was abused is K25 million.
However, the accused is yet to take plea on the charges levelled against him as the State is still to arrest other suspects from M’mbelwa District Council.
The case will start on an unspecified date.
According to Nyasulu, they received a complaint in 2022 that Chihana, with other officers from M’mbelwa District Council, allegedly abused Constituency Development Fund (CDF) allocations, adding that this is against the Corrupt Practices Act.
Court documents indicate that the warrant of arrest was issued in February 2023.
“We, as ACB, still have other suspects who committed offences based on the same facts; so, we would like to bring all of them together so that they should take plea with Chihana. We do not just act out of the blues; we have to make our own investigations and, when we are convinced, that’s is when we take court action.
“It has taken much time because of such issues but we are ready for the case,” Nyasulu said.
Defence lawyer Wapona Kita commended the court for granting the accused bail, saying he was not feeling well
Kita said Chihana was suffering from high blood pressure, adding that upon arrival in Mzuzu On Wednesday, he was rushed to Wezi Medical Clinic for treatment.
“We are satisfied with the today’s court proceedings because we made a bail application today and we have been granted the bail, which is very rare.
“However, we are concerned with the State because they seem not to be ready with the case. They arrested him and today they say he cannot take plea. Why arresting him then? Kita queried.
Among the bail conditions, Chihana paid a cash bond of K1 million and one surety—his son Chakufwa Yeremia Junior with non-cash bond of K10 million.
He is expected to be reporting to ACB offices in Lilongwe every fortnight.
He also surrendered all his travelling documents and has been warned not to interfere with witnesses.
At the court, Chihana was accompanied by Aford supporters and others from the Democratic Progressive Party.
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