Former Road Authority (RA) Chief Executive Officer Trevor Hiwa has been released on bail after spending a day in police cell.
Hiwa was arrested on Monday by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on allegation that that he awarded his own company, Infrastructure Consultants (Infracon), a World Bank contract worth over K200 million.
He appeared before Lilongwe Senior Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday to be formally charged.
He has been charged with dealing in contracts and failing to declare interest in the procurement process contrary to section 25(d) (1) of the Corrupt Practices Act and section 19(1) of the Public Procurement Act.
Hiwa, who is being represented by private practice lawyer Ian Nankhuni, pleaded “not guilty” to all the charges.
Lawyer Nankhuni then applied for bail of Hiwa which was granted after State prosecutors did not provide any evidence of the likelihood that, if released on bail, he would attempt to influence or intimidate witnesses.
The court imposed bail conditions of K200,000 cash and produce two non-cash sureties at K500,000 each including Gertrude Hiwa, wife to the accused and commissioner for the Malawi Law Commission.
Court also ordered Hiwa to surrender his passport and gave him reportind directions that he reports to Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) once every fortnight.
