Charges against Banda rejected

Supporters of former President Joyce Banda, who has been issued with a warrant of arrest following her alleged involvement in the 'Cashgate' scandal say the matter is 'politically-motivated'. As previously reported in Legalbrief Today, Banda has been charged with abuse of office and money laundering offences over a two-year period when she was in office. The alleged offences were part of a wider corruption scandal uncovered in 2013, in which senior government officers allegedly siphoned millions of dollars from state coffers. The Nyasa Times reports that Peoples Party official Uladi Mussa said the party was not aware of the arrest warrant against their president. 'With any arrest warrant , there should be solid evidence that is going to lead to a successful prosecution. But the police are basing their case on hearsay upon hearsay from Cashgate convicts,' Mussa is quoted in the report as saying. Banda left the country when she lost in elections to incumbent Peter Mutharika and has not returned since 2014. The corruption scandal led to international donors suspending aid.