The High Court in Blantyre has sentenced businessman Thomson Mpinganjira to 9 years in prison with hard labour for attempting to bribe five judges who presided over the 2019 presidential election nullification petition.

Reading the sentence on Tuesday, Judge Dorothy Degabrielle said Mpinganjira has been convicted on two counts which attract nine-year jail term each but will run concurrently.

On September 10 2021, the High Court found Mpinganjira guilty on six counts, under the Corrupt Practices Act including corruptly offering an advantage and attempting to induce the judges with an aim of influencing a ruling of the case in favour of the then president Peter Mutharika.

Mpinganjira was on remand at Chichiri prison until on Tuesday when High Court Judge Dorothy DeGabrielle passed the sentence.

Commenting on the sentence, lawyer for Mpinganjira, Patrice Nkhono said they will appeal against both the charges and the sentence.