Malanji awaits bail ruling from High Court cell
…laments bond condition that he provides documents on helicopter’s registration is illegal

By NATION REPORTER
FORMER Foreign Affairs Minister Joseph Malanji spent a second night in detention after the Lusaka High Court reserved ruling on his application for bail to today.
His lawyer, Mr Makebi Zulu told journalists yesterday after hearing of the application before Judge Dancewell Bowa in chambers that ruling will be delivered today at 14:00 hours.
“We have done what we had to do, we made the application and the ruling will be made tomorrow (today) and we are confident of the outcome. He remains detained until the ruling is made. We don’t know where he has been taken and DEC should know,” Mr. Zulu said.
Following his arrest together with former Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba on Monday, Malanji was held at Ridgeway police post until yesterday when he was moved to the High Court holding cell where he was detained as hearing for his bail application was going on.
After the hearing, he was whisked away in a Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) vehicle, leaving his expectant family, sympathisers, and some senior PF members dumbfounded.
Malanji applied for bail, after DEC officer Mukelabai Mukelabai refused to release him on bond on condition that it could only be granted if he provided registration documents for two helicopters owned by Gibson Air Charter Limited and a subsisting contract for the hire of the aircrafts.
Malanji, of House number 179, Acacia drive, Roma Park, Roma, was arrested and charged with Yamba for alleged wilful failure to follow the law on supplementary expenditure after they allegedly influenced the transfer of K154, 201, 197.00 to the Zambian Mission in Turkey.
Yamba was however, granted bond but Malanji’s application despite presenting three sureties who were vetted and accepted, was declined.
Malanji is also charged with possession of two helicopters and three properties, reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime.
After his arrest, DEC declined to release him on bond while his co-accused Yamba was granted favourable bond conditions.
He stated that as advised by his lawyers, the requirement by the DEC for him to provide documents relating to the registration of two helicopters and the contracts for their hire is not only unreasonable but also illegal as it violates his rights as guaranteed by the Constitution.
He added that upon his being charged and arrested, the investigations are deemed to have been concluded.
Malanji stated that when Mr Mukelabai was asked when the matter would be presented before court, his response was that it was dependant on the Director of Public Prosecution granting consent to prosecute on the first count.