Court dismisses Chisale’s application on frozen assets

Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal has dismissed an application by former president Peter Mutharika’s personal bodyguard Norman Chisale to vary an order issued by the High Court that froze some of his assets.

Judge Charles Mkandawire ruled in favour of Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and Attorney General (AG) who urged the court not to entertain Chisale’s application.

The preservation order the High Court issued earlier last year also froze Chisale’s two bank accounts, a situation his lawyer Chancy Gondwe said crippled his client financially and could not afford to pay legal fees to his lawyers.

In his application to vary the High Court order in the Supreme Court, Chisale wanted to access K50 million from the frozen bank accounts to pay for his legal fees and other living expenses.

But besides this, there was already an appeal in the Supreme Court.

Justice Mkandawire, in his ruling, advised Chisale’s lawyers to concentrate on the appeal already in the Supreme Court. He said the application was misconceived and proceeded to dismiss it.

AG Thabo Chakaka-Nyirenda, who also challenged the variation of the order application before the single Supreme Court judge, is challenging Chisale’s appeal in the Supreme Court.

The preservation order on Chisale’s assets was issued upon application by the DPP and the AG ahead of Chisale’s assets forfeiture case.

Source:NPL