Court summons Doctor in Malanji case
By Esther Chisola
THE Lusaka Magistrate’s Court has summoned a medical doctor who attended to former minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Malanji to appear before it on Monday.
The doctor is expected to explain why Malanji’s sick note has Joel Malanji instead of Joseph Malanji.
This was after the former minister, through his lawyer, informed the court that he was not before the Court as he was unwell.
The lawyer presented a sick note to the court, which Principal State Advocate Mwangala Mwala contested.
Upon the presentation of the sick note, Mwala observed the mistake and immediately made an application to subpoena the said medical doctor.
“Your honour, a close look at the sick note the accused has presented shows the name of Joel Malanji instead of Joseph Malanji. For that reason, I would like to subpoena the medical doctor who issued this sick note,” said Mwala.
The defence did not object to the application.
Acting Chief Resident Magistrate Ireen Wishimanga, ordered the doctor to appear before her on Monday.
In this matter, Malanji and former Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba are jointly charged with 10 counts of possession of property suspected to be proceeds of crime.
Allegations are that between January 2020 and August 2021, Yamba, then serving as Secretary to the Treasury, irregularly authorised the transfer of K108 million to the Zambian Mission in Turkey for real estate procurement.
While Malanji is accused of having property suspected to be proceeds of crime.
Among the properties before the Court is a Bell 430 helicopter, a Bell 206 Jet Ranger, the Gibson Royal Hotel, and three houses in Silverest.
Magistrate Wishimanga was scheduled to deliver judgment in the case yesterday.
