The Chief Resident Magistrate’s Court in Lilongwe has released on bail 16 Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) officials who were arrested two weeks ago over the abuse of K4.6 million Covid-19 funds.

The 16 have been on remand at Maula Prison for 7 days following an application by the State that they be remanded for them to carry out their investigations.

Chief Resident Magistrate Patrick Chirwa has since ordered all the 16 to pay cash bond of K90,000, be reporting to Area 30 National Police Headquarters every fortnight, and provide one surety of K200,000 non cash bond and inform police whenever they want to leave Lilongwe as bail conditions.

Pawene Nkhata is lawyer representing one of the lawyers representing the accused persons;

“The next step here is that step here according to the prosecutor is that they will give us the disclosures in the next two weeks.

And the Court will reconvene on March 24, 2021 for the taking of plea and the Court says we should be ready because trial will commence on the same day,” said Nkhata.

The Court has been adjourned to March 24, 2021 for plea taking.