A Mangochi-based person, Benson Kambulire, has dragged UTM and executors of the deceased estate of the late Saulos Chilima to court for a claim of K106 million.
According to court documents, the first respondent is late Chilima and the second respondent is the UTM party.
Chilima was the founder and president of the UTM until his death on June 10 this year in aircraft accident in Chikangawa forest.
Lawyer representing the businessman, Oscar Taulo, confirmed dragging UTM to court.
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“I can confirm we are suing UTM and executors of deceased estate,” Taulo said.
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UTM spokesperson Felix Njawala expressed ignorance over the matter.
“The party doesn’t know anything about this. I will find out,” Njawala said.
But late Chilima’s lawyer Bright Theu said the matter was brought up when Chilima was alive but they denied liability.
He said yesterday that he could no longer comment on the matter.
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“Now with SKC gone, I would need instructions from representatives of his estate to make any comment,” Theu said.
According to the court documents, Kambulire had an agreement with the late Chilima and the UTM party to service and buy parts for UTM vehicles, refuel them and that after elections in 2020, he would be paid all his dues and get extra money as a token of appreciation.
“After the election, the promises never materialised, which forced him to write a demand letter, which was responded to by his lawyer, Bright Theu of Nicholls & Brookes, while the late Chilima was alive, and they denied liability,” reads the court document.
The claimant says he incurred a sum of K106 million in costs for repairing and fixing UTM vehicles
Recently, the UTM said it was facing a financial crisis as it has over K4 billion in debts.
The debt, reportedly contracted by trusted senior lieutenants of Chilima, has become a focal point of contention within the party.
