Principal State witness who is also National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA) Deputy Chief Executive Officer Helen Buluma has started testifying in a fuel importation case involving former Energy Minister Newton Kambala alongside two others.

Buluma commenced giving the testimony after the court ruled in favour of the State to have her recordings tendered as evidence in the trial.

The court started hearing Buluma’s testimony which is a conversation she recorded last year with the third accused who is also President Lazarus Chakwera’s former aid Chris Chaima Banda.

In the first recording that lasted close to an hour, the two discussed on why the fuel procurement tender should be awarded to Finergy Petroleum.

The person who is believed to be Chaima Banda said the Malawi Leader wanted Finergy to be awarded the contract as that would benefit Malawians through what he called social responsibility programmes.

In the second five-minute audio which Buluma recorded whilst having a conversation with Kambala, the former Energy Minister is heard asking the State witness to consider working with the suspended Nocma Chief Executive Officer Gift Dula.

However, Buluma turned down the request saying that she could not work with Dula because of a directive that he must not transact any business on behalf of Nocma.

Kambala and Chaima Banda are answering the charges alongside Alliance for Democracy (AFORD) President Enoch Chihana.

The three are being accused of conspiracy to influence a public officer to abuse her office, abuse of office and attempting to influence a public officer to abuse her office.

High Court Judge Patrick Chirwa who started hearing the case as Chief Resident Magistrate has adjourned hearing of trial to Wednesday morning where the defence is expected to cross examine Buluma.