Joe Malanji Granted K10,000 Bail With Two Working Surities

LUSAKA High Court judge Mwape Bowa has granted former Foreign Affairs minister Joseph Malanji K10,000 free bail with two working sureties.

In a ruling, judge Bowa said the demand by Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) officers that Malanji would only be released if he provided documents for registration of the Helicopters and the contract for hire with Gibson Air Charter Limited is illegal.

Malanji’s lead defence lawyer Makebi Zulu confirmed that judge Bowa granted his client bail in a ruling delivered in chambers.

“Yes my client has been granted bail.

The demand they (DEC) sought from him to give them documents they intend to use in trial has been set aside as being illegal.

The court has plainly put it that he ought to be given the same conditions as Fredson Yamba was given,” Zulu said.

Malanji’s two sureties are bound in the same sum of K10,000 in their own recognizance.

Malanji applied for bail in the High Court after the DEC refused to bond him and gave him a condition that they would only do so if he availed registration documents for aircrafts.

Malanji is jointly charged with former Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba for willful failure to comply with procedure on supplementary expenditure.

Malanji is also charged with possession of two Helicopters and three properties, which are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime.

Professor Nkandu Luo, Raphael Nakacinda and PF vice president Given Lubinda were at court to offer Malanji solidarity.