High Court Judge Redson Kapindu has varied bail conditions that were imposed on vice president Saulos Chilima who is answering a corruption case. 

The lower court ordered the surrender of Chilima’s passport to the court and required him to report to the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) offices once a month.

However, the defense team challenged these conditions, arguing that it treated the Vice President as a flight risk.

In his ruling, Judge Kapindu agreed with the defense’s application and made modifications to the bail conditions.

Instead of surrendering the passport to the court, the judge ruled that it should be kept in the custody of the state President.

The basis was that the President, as the person responsible for authorising the vice president’s travels and having taken an oath to protect the constitution, could release the travel document appropriately.

Additionally, the court set aside the requirement for Chilima to appear at the ACB offices. Instead, the Vice President would now be required to furnish the ACB with his travel schedules every two weeks.

Judge Kapindu emphasized that when Chilima intends to leave the country, he must inform both the court and the ACB at least 72 hours in advance.

However, the court clarified that the ACB should only be informed and not asked for permission.

The defense therefore been granted a 7-day period to file an application challenging the legality of the ACB prosecuting the case.

Their argument centered around the bureau’s alleged vetting of business contracts, which they claimed Chilima had supposedly benefited corruptly through Zuneth Sattar.

The court adjourned the proceedings to August 25 for the delivery of case directions, plea taking, and oral submissions.