The Senior Resident Magistrate Court in Blantyre has granted bail to businessman Abdul Karim Batatawala who is answering two counts of conspiracy to fraud government money amounting to K2.1 billion and laundering K1.5 billion.
Among other bail conditions, Batatawala has been ordered to pay a cash bond of K800,000, produce one surety bonded at K2.5 million and surrender his passport and all travelling documents. He has also been ordered to surrender himself to the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Fridays every two weeks.
Senior Resident Magistrate Martin Chipofya has therefore set January 22 as the date when the suspect will enter for plea.
ACB is accusing Batatawala of being awarded a contract to supply uniforms to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services without proper procedures.
