The High Court in Lilongwe has adjourned to next month on July 25 hearing of an alleged K5 billion cementgate case involving former President Peter Mutharika’s security aide Norman Chisale alongside four others.

The five accused persons appeared before High Court Judge Redson Kapindu on Monday where they were told of their charges.

Chisale, former State House Chief of Staff Peter Mukhitho, former MRA deputy commissioner Roza Mbilizi  and businesspersons Mahmed Chunara together with his father Ahmed Chunara were arrested on suspicion of fraud, conspiracy to commit custom offenses, abuse of office, smuggling and falsifying documents.

However, one of the defence lawyers Bright Theu who is representing the Chunaras said they will apply for judicial review challenging how investigation regarding the matter were carried out.

“Eventually we will write submissions to the honourable Court to make its ruling, then will come to court for plea and directions but the charge sheet has been read to them and all the 18 counts have been read to them.

“Preliminary issues are issues that need to be tackled before the actual plea and directions,” said Steven Kayuni, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

In total, all the accused persons who are currently on bail, are answering 18 counts are alleged to have been committed between November 2018 and June 2020 in Lilongwe and Blantyre and they are suspected to have imported 1, 250, 770 bags of cement duty free.

Judge Kapindu has since directed that the preliminary objection be filed within seven days of which the State will respond within seven days too.