The Chief Resident Magistrate`s Court in Lilongwe has set October 22 this year as a date it will commence hearing a case involving three former senior officers of Malawi Leaf Company, a subsidiary of Auction Holdings Limited Group (AHL) and a businessman.

The four suspects, Evans Matabwa, Jimmy Kusamale, Francis Madona and businessman Arthur Madikhula were arrested last week and have been in police custody despite being granted bail as their sureties were yet to be examined.

Magistrate Patrick Chirwa has since accepted all 8 sureties after being examined on Monday and directed the State to serve the defense with disclosures.

In an interview, one of the lawyers representing the accused persons, Gift Katundu, said the defense is ready to commence the trial once disclosures have been served.

“Probably a few days before the set date we should be given the documents so that we can prepare for the trial,” said Katundu.

The State has brought six charges bordering on conspiracy to defraud, neglect of official duty, forgery of official document, uttering a false document, theft, and money laundering.

The four were arrested on Tuesday last week on alleged conspiracy and theft of over K20, 472, 115, 504.39 from the company.