Senior Resident Magistrate Shyreen Chirwa has transferred a matter involving former Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (Mera) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Collins Magalasi, and others to Chief Resident Magistrate Patrick Chirwa.

The CEO, Mera`s spokesperson Patrick Maulidi, Procurement Officer Bright Mbewe and Magalasi`s Business Associate Dorothy Shonga are being accused of fraud, money laundering and entering into a procurement with an employee.

But appearing before Magistrate Chirwa on Monday afternoon, lawyer representing Magalasi Andy Kaonga asked the Court to transfer the matter to another Magistrate on the basis that the Court is handling another case involving Magalasi which has similar witnesses and evidence.

“There could be a perception that actually what happened in one case spilled over to the other case and that’s the only application we made to the case,” said Kaonga.

After hearing from both parties,  Magistrate Shyreen Chirwa agreed with Kaonga and transferred the matter to Chief Resident Magistrate Patrick Chirwa.

“The Court agreed with us that actually there might be a perception, justice should not be done but should seem to be done, the Court agreed that that’s what should happen,” said Kaonga.

On his part, Director of Public Prosecution Dr Steve Kayuni says the State is ready to commence with trial before Magistrate Chirwa.

“We argued the matter, we did not agree, because the said arguments are not grounded in law but eventually the Court for purposes of fairness sent the matter to CRM, and on our part we are ready,” Dr Kayuni said.

The matter has since been adjourned to March 1, 2021.