The Lilongwe Principal Resident Magistrate’s Court has granted bail to former Finance Minister Simplex Chithyola Banda in an abuse of office case linked to a fertilizer-for-soya barter deal involving Romanian firm East Bridge.

The court heard that while serving under President Lazarus Chakwera, Chithyola Banda allegedly authorized payments used to purchase soya and tobacco meant to be exchanged with East Bridge for fertilizer the company allegedly never supplied.

According to the State, the alleged transactions occurred between October 2023 and September 2025 and resulted in suspected government losses estimated at about K25 billion in public funds.

Director of Public Prosecutions Fostino Maere told the court that “investigations are complete,” adding that the State did not want to waste the court’s time and was ready to proceed with trial.

Maere further indicated that the prosecution expects the trial to take about three days once hearings formally begin.

The court also noted that the case may be reassigned after Principal Magistrate Benjamin Chulu was elevated to serve as a High Court judge.

Defence lawyer George Jivason Kadzipatike told the court the defence had “no objections” to the bail conditions proposed by the State.

Kadzipatike, however, requested flexibility on surrendering travel documents, informing the court that the accused is scheduled to travel to Namibia on parliamentary business between April 19 and 25, 2026.

The court granted bail requiring payment of K2 million cash, provision of two reliable sureties bonded at K5 million non-cash, surrender of travel documents, and monthly reporting to National Police Headquarters in Area 30.

Chithyola Banda did not take plea during the court appearance, and the matter is expected to be consolidated with another related case involving two additional accused persons.

In February this year, police also arrested former Secretary to the President and Cabinet Colleen Zamba and former Cabinet ministers Sosten Gwengwe and Sam Kawale over alleged conspiracy to commit a crime and separate counts of misuse of office linked to the same investigations.

Senior members of the Malawi Congress Party, including Moses Kunkuyu, Jessie Kabwira, and Maxwell Thyolera, were among those present during the proceedings.

The case is expected to return to court on a date to be set by the State.