BLANTYRE \u2014 The long-awaited corruption trial of former Malawian president Bakili Muluzi kicked off Tuesday, making him one of the few African leaders ever to stand trial for corruption.<\/p>\n
The hearing, in which Muluzi and his personal assistant Liness Whisky are accused of siphoning $12 million (8.6 million euros) in funds from international donors, began despite his lawyers’ insistance that he was not fit to stand trial.<\/p>\n
“The first accused is feeling a lot of pain. It will be risky for the accused to undergo trial in his current condition,” lawyer Kalekeni Kaphale told the high court in Blantyre.<\/p>\n
Kaphale, who leads a defence team of five lawyers, said subjecting Muluzi to trial rather than sending him for medical treatment abroad “raises the issue of torture.”<\/p>\n
Muluzi, dressed in a black suit and looking uncomfortable, appeared to listen attentively in the dock.<\/p>\n
The former president, who led the country for two terms from 1994 to 2004, arrived at court using a walking stick.<\/p>\n
He pleaded not guilty last September to the 12 charges of siphoning state funds. Whisky has also pleaded not guilty.<\/p>\n
The case against them has dragged on for five years.<\/p>\n
The government has refused Muluzi permission to travel to South Africa for specialised treatment for back problems, saying state specialists should first determine if he can be treated locally.<\/p>\n
Judge Maclean Kamwambe said he would stop the proceedings if Muluzi appeared to need medical attention.<\/p>\n
Alex Nampota, director of Malawi’s Anti-Corruption Bureau, said the state plans to call 35 witnesses.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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