The State has winded up its prosecution testimonies in a mobile fuel testing van procurement case involving former Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (Mera) Chief Executive Officer Collins Magalasi alongside former procurement officer Bright Mbewe.

The resting of the State case follows parading of its sixth and last witness Ephraim Phiri who is a police investigator working with the fiscal and fraud section.

Phiri, who appeared before Chief Resident Magistrate Patrick Chirwa in Lilongwe, told the court that the two accused persons floated procurement in payment of K140 million.

“K140 million was paid against what was written in the contract agreement which was supposed to be done after 30 days of delivery of item,” Phiri told the court.

“But the payment was paid when the property was not delivered till now.”

Meanwhile, Magistrate Chirwa has directed both parties to file submissions within 30 days.

Said Steven Kayuni, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP): “I would say that decision is for the court to make for us.”

“We have put before quote evidence that we believe speaks to the charges that are before they got, but the final decision is required.”

Reacting to closure of State’s prosecution case, one of the defense lawyers Andy Kaonga has maintained that with evidence rendered so far, the accused persons could not have been the ones answering the charges levelled against them.

“I mean, nobody is saying anything wrong happened, that’s the point that is very important for us to understand,” he said.

“I keep saying that I don’t know why this charge was actually brought to court, I really don’t understand, but you know, strange things happen.”

The accused persons are answering charges bordering on abuse of office and contravening procurement procedures in accordance with the fuel testing van which was reportedly procured from City Motors Limited at K704 million.