Nine people accused of theft of two million litres of diesel valued at K2.5 billion meant for heavy-duty stand-by electricity generators in 2018 have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The suspects, who include fuel tanker drivers, stores clerks and security guards appeared before the Chief Resident Magistrate’s Court in Lilongwe yesterday.

They were identified on the charge sheet as Ronald Mhango, Andrew Salama, Kenneth Kachere, Thokozani Passo, Lameck Mponda, Saulosi Malemba, Edward Kankhande, Michael Makungwa and Isaac Mkwezalamba.

The suspects have been charged with one count each of theft contrary to Section 278 of the Penal Code and another count each of money laundering contrary to Section 42 (1)(c)of the Financial Crimes Act.

Between January and June 2018, tanker drivers are suspected to have used their vehicles to take out fuel from three Aggreko Limited sites at Chichiri in Blantyre, Kanengo in Lilongwe and Chinyama in Kasungu.

During yesterday’s court appearance before chief resident magistrate Madalitso Chimwaza, the court learnt that the 10th suspect, Manuel Dosha, died.

In an interview after the hearing, senior assistant chief State advocate Dziko Malunda from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions said: “We learnt in the court that one of the suspects is deceased, which means going forward we will have to remove the accused person from the charge sheet, but firstly we have to verify by conducting our own investigation as to whether the claim being made is indeed true.”

He also pointed out that a fresh charge sheet will be filed and that the suspects may be asked to retake their plea.

One of the defence lawyers Gift Katundu said in an interview they were ready for the case after being served with all disclosures by prosecution.

But he decried delays to begin trial, saying his clients’ lifestyles have been distracted as they have been reporting for bail for over three years now.

The court has adjourned the matter to October 7 2022 for beginning of trial.

Vice-President Saulos Chilima, who is also leader of UTM Party, blew the whistle on the fuel racket on July 31 2018 during the launch of his UTM Party at Njamba Freedom Park in Blantyre.

Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) launched an investigation into the matter to establish how the fuel might have been stolen between the loading point at National Oil Company of Malawi and the generators’ sites.

A report on the fuel theft compiled by Escom indicated that the company suspected collusion between drivers, fuel attendants, security guards and staff at Aggreko, the company that was contracted to supply about 78 megawatts of power using generators.

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