Malawi's VP given more time in corruption case against him

The Malawi Financial Crimes Court has ruled that Vice-President Saulos Chilima should be given more time to go through his charge sheet before he enters a plea in the corruption case he is facing.

Dr Chilima was in court in the capital, Lilongwe, for the start of a case in which the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) is accusing him of receiving $280,000 (£230,000) and other unnamed items from a British businessman.

He was arrested in November and granted bail but the case has since been transferred to the Financial Crimes Court following a request from the ACB.

Dr Chilima, who is on record as saying charges against him are politically motivated, is yet to give his response in court.

On Monday, Judge Redson Kapindu ordered the ACB to provide Dr Chilima all the details of the case within seven days.

The graft-busting body, however, asked for more time and the court gave 1 August as the date for the disclosures to be made by and when a plea will need to be given.

Before then the court sits again on 19 July for a hearing on bail conditions after the defence asked that they be waived.

Under the bail conditions Dr Chilima has to report to the ACB once every three months and has had his passport withheld by the court.

This article originally appeared on BBC News

Photo: AFP