By Augustus Nkhwazi

Mzuzu, June 3, Mana: Principal Resident Magistrate Court in Mzuzu has granted bail to Jappie Mhango, former Cabinet Minister and current vice president for Democratic Progressive Party in the north who was arrested on Monday by the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) over abuse of office.

In his bail ruling, Chief Resident Magistrate Godfrey Balaka said where major factors in granting an accused person bail are not disputed by the prosecution, denying such accused bail will not be in the interest of justice.

Among conditions Balaka outlined are that the accused makes a cash deposit of K1  million, provide two reliable surities bonded at K500, 000 each not cash, report to ACB offices once in every two weeks on Wednesdays and surrender his travel documents.

Mhango has been charged with two counts of abuse of office and giving false information to the Bureau contrary to section 25B (1) and giving false information to the Bureau contrary to section 14 (1) of the Corrupt Practices Act.

Earlier, Principal Legal and Prosecution Officer for the ACB Daniel Nyasulu told the court that the Bureau brought Mhango before court to formerly inform him of the reasons for his arrest.

Nyasulu however stated that the state is not ready with plea taking as there are some two more suspects in the same case who have not been arrested yet.

Mhango was arrested on Monday and spent a night at Mzuzu Police Station. He was moved earlier in morning to ACB offices where he was recorded caution statements before being brought before court later in the afternoon of Tuesday.