By Chisomo Phiri
The Lilongwe Senior Resident Magistrate Court has today found Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority ( MERA) Chief Executive Officer ( CEO) Collins Magalasi with a case to answer in a case to do with the misuse of funds amounting to 10.5 million kwacha.
It is said that the money was used to pay accommodation in 2018 at a convention held in Blantyre for delegates belonging to the then ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
In February 2021, Magalasi had pleaded not guilty on both charges leveled against him.
Meanwhile, in his ruling, Senior Resident Magistrate Rodrick Michongwe found Magalasi with a case to answer on both counts of fraud and abuse of office.
This means that now the case will go in full trial.
In December last year, Magalasi alongside businesswoman Dorothy Shonga were also found with a case to answer in a case in which they are accused of influencing MERA Internal Procurement and Disposal Committee to award contract to Vink Enterprise, which is allegedly owned by the two.
It is alleged Vink Enterprises was awarded a K186 million contract for supply of MERA strategic plan booklets as well as branded cloth and T-shirts.
Former MERA public relations officer Patrick Maulidi and procurement officer Bright Mbewe were also found with case to answer.
