The Senior Resident Magistrate Court in Lilongwe on Monday rejected bail requests from Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (Mera) Chief Executive Officer Collins Magalasi and three others who are answering corruption charges.

Magalasi, Mera`s spokesperson Patrick Maulidi, Mera’s Procurement Officer Bright Mbewe and Magalasi`s business associate Dorothy Shonga have since been remanded to Maula Prison waiting for their bail ruling scheduled for Wednesday this week.

During Wednesday`s Court appearance, the State asked the Court to include the charges of Bright Mbewe on the charge sheet of the three accused.

The four accused are being charged with counts of fraud, money laundering and entering into a procurement with an employee which is contrary to Public Procurement and Disposal Act.

According to Senior Resident Magistrate Florence Msekandiana, the accused should still be in police custody pending investigations by the State.

The State earlier asked for 14 days to conduct further investigations and asked the Court to remand the suspects at Maula Prison on the basis that they may interfere with State witnesses.

But responding to the application, the Court granted the State a 7-day period starting from July 30 to August 5.

According to Msekandiana, the State has enough time interview the witnesses whom the State said some are Mera officers.

The Court has since adjourned the matter to this coming Wednesday where it expected to deliver its determination on the bail application by the accused.

The four accused were arrested on July 27 this year.