State witnesses in a case regarding the procurement of a mobile fuel testing van involving former Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (Mera) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Collins Magalasi alongside former procurement officer Bright Mbewe have told the Court that the van was procured but never delivered to the Authority.

Testifying before Chief Resident Magistrate Patrick Chirwa in Lilongwe, the first witness Mera’s Senior Fuel Regulation Specialist George Ndilowe said the van was intended for testing of quality of fuel products.

On her part, the second witness; Director of Liquid Fuels and Gas Alinafe Mkaveya at Mera said both Plant and Vehicle Hire and Engineering Services (PVHES) and Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS) inspected the van.

Mkaveya, however told the court that the van was never delivered to Mera.

Commenting on the testimony, one of the defense lawyers Andy Kaonga said he do know why the van was not delivered to Mera office despite being in the country.

“The issue is that delivery is a legal term, and what they are saying is that the hasn’t come to the offices of Mera, I don’t know why the van hadn’t come to Mera offices.

But as you saw all the witnesses saying that the vehicle is in the country and has been here for close to two years and has been inspected by all the bodies that should have inspected the vehicle,” said Kaonga.

In an interview, Director of Public Prosecutions Steven Kayuni said the state has three more witnesses expected to testify in the trial.

He said: “The case has gathered lots of ground and now we have three witnesses to go and then we will close our case.”

“In total we will have six witnesses, three have already testified and we are remaining with three to go.”

Magistrate Chirwa has since adjourned hearing of the matter to March 2, 2022.