𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗱𝗿𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗿. 𝗠𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗷𝗶𝗿𝗮’𝘀 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗹

𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗱𝗿𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗿. 𝗠𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗷𝗶𝗿𝗮’𝘀 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗹

The Supreme Court of Appeal sitting in Blantyre has this morning recorded the withdrawal of Dr. Thomson Mpinganjira's appeal against his conviction for offering advantages to public officers.

Dr. Mpinganjira was found guilty on September 10, 2021 and was subsequently released on bail in 2022 pending the determination of his appeal before the Supreme Court.

The withdrawal came after former President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera exercised his constitutional powers under Section 89(2) of the Constitution to grant Dr. Mpinganjira a presidential pardon during the country's 61st Independence Day celebrations.

According to court procedures, although an appeal has been withdrawn, it remains necessary for the Supreme Court of Appeal to convene in open court to formally record the withdrawal.

The Court has formally recorded the withdrawal and removed the appeal from the cause list of the Supreme Court of Appeal.

The panel of Judges presiding over the sitting included Justices of Appeal Frank Kapanda, SC, John Katsala, SC, Charles Mkandawire, SC, Rowland Mbvundula, SC, Dorothy nyaKaunda Kamanga, SC, and Acting Justices of Appeal Fiona Mwale and Texious Masoamphambe.