High Court Rejects ACB Bid to Drop Corruption Case Against Chinese National Lin Yunhua
Published on July 14, 2026 at 10:38 AM by Edgar Naitha
The High Court has dismissed an application by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to discontinue corruption charges against Chinese national Lin Yunhua, who was convicted in 2019 of wildlife trafficking and financial crimes.
Justice Kapindu ruled that the State used the wrong legal procedure to seek the withdrawal of the case and stressed the gravity of the allegations against Lin, describing them as an attack on the country’s justice system.
Lin faces several charges under the Corrupt Practices Act, including two counts of corrupt practices involving a public officer.
According to court records, he allegedly offered K30 million to then Maula Prison Officer-in-Charge Aaron Ganyavu Kaunda to influence then Senior Resident Magistrate Violet Chipao to impose a lighter sentence after his conviction.
He is also accused of offering to complete the construction of Kaunda’s house in Area 49, Lilongwe, in exchange for the same favour.
Justice Kapindu said the allegations, if proven, amount to a direct attempt to undermine the administration of justice.
The court further noted that Section 81 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Code, which the State relied on, applies only to subordinate courts and cannot be used to discontinue proceedings before the High Court.
The ruling follows criticism from several civil society organisations, which questioned the ACB’s decision to withdraw the case and called on the bureau to publicly explain its reasons.
