By Chisomo Phiri
The suspects in the cement-gate case, businessperson Mahmed Chunara, former president Peter Mutharika’s bodyguard Norman Chisale, former director of State residences Peter Mukhito and Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) deputy commissioner general Roza Mbiliz have on Friday denied all the charges leveled against them in a case in which they are accused of abusing the TAX Payer Identification Number (TPIN) for former President Arthur Peter Mutharika.
They are suspected to have misused former President Mutharika’s TPIN to import cement worth K5 billion duty-free between November 2018 and June 2020.
The case proceeded to plea-taking after the Court dismissed Chisale’s request to the High Court to stay criminal proceedings against him in the case.
One of the State lawyers Dzikondianthu Malunda said they will parade 16 witnesses, but declined to divulge more details.
The suspects are facing counts of fraud, conspiracy to commit customs offences, smuggling, aiding by abuse of office, making false documents and money laundering among others.
The court adjourned the case to a date that will be fixed both by the state and the defence and will have to communicate to the Court by 25th August 2023.
