COURT REFERRERS MPHWIYO BAIL APPLICATION TO HIGH COURT

Lilongwe Magistrate court has today referred the bail application for former Budget Director Paul Mphwiyo to the Lilongwe High Court on the basis that the case involves `huge` sums of money.

The Ant-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested Mr. Mphwiyo on Saturday alongside his wife Thandizo on charges of theft and money laundering amounting to MK4.2 billion.

On Tuesday Magistrate Paul Chiotcha adjourned the hearing of the bail application to today 8:30am.

During the court seating today, Chiotcha told the court that he has received the communication from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) that the case be referred to the High Court on the grounds that the case was `too` huge.

The defence team headed by Alemekezeke Mando appealed for the release of his client on the count that his medical condition deteriorated just after police arrested him on Saturday.

The plundering of public funds at Capitol Hill dubbed cashgate which is currently pegged at MK20 billion came to light after unknown criminals shot former budget director Mr Paul mphwiyo in September last year.

The scam which is the first of its kind led to donors suspending their direct aid to the country leaving the economy in doom.