Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal Judge Frank Kapanda on Monday granted former Lands Minister Kezzie Msukwa a stay order stopping the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) from commencing criminal proceedings against him pending his appeal.

The injunction, which is ex-parte, is only temporary until a full hearing on June 28, 2022 and has been granted to lawyers representing Msukwa in absence of the graft-bursting body.

Earlier, lawyers representing Msukwa asked High Court Judge Redson Kapindu to add Attorney General (AG) as Party to the case.

“The court heard arguments both from ourselves as well as the ACB, it has reserved its ruling to date to be communicated by he court,” said Michael Goba Chipeta is one of Msukwa’s lawyers.

On his part, ACB Chief Legal and Prosecutions Officer Victor Chiwala said the Bureau objected the application.

He said: “As ACB we opposed on the grounds that the Judge already dismissed a similar application made by Honourable Msukwa.

On the hand, we also said the second claimant had an opportunity in the beginning to add the AG as a Party, the AG did not make a decision that the court is reviewing.”