Collins Magalasi found with case to answer
Lilongwe Principal Resident Magistrate Rodrick Michongwe has found Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (Mera) former chief executive officer Collins Magalasi with a case to answer in a case where he is accused of abusing office.
Magalasi is accused of abusing office when he allegedly used public funds to pay K10.5 million as accommodation for former governing Democratic Progressive Party officials at Kanjedza Lodge, Oasis Hotel and Heritage Serendib between July and August 2018.
On February 18 2021, Magalasi pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The State paraded seven witnesses in the matter.
In an interview after Wednesday’s court session, Senior State Advocate Dzikondianthu Malunda said the State welcomed the ruling.
He said it is up to Magalasi to enter the defence.
“We are happy with the ruling and we, as the State, are ready to face Magalasi as they enter into defence. We will be waiting to hear from the defence as to how the matter will proceed as the counsel for the accused person was not present in court today,” Malunda said.
Counsel for the accused person Andy Kaonga was not present to give his comment on the matter.
Magalasi is answering charges of abuse of office and fraud.
Magistrate Michongwe has since adjourned the matter to a date yet to be communicated.
Recently, the court found Magalasi with a case to answer in two other cases involving the procurement of a Mera testing van and the awarding of a K107 million procurement contract to Vink Enterprise, a company that Dorothy Shonga Nkhoma owns.
