THE Gulfstream G650-ER Presidential Jet has been admitted as evidence in the high-profile corruption case against Defence Permanent Secretary Stardy Mwale and five others, Lusaka Chief Resident Magistrate Davies Chibwili ruled on Thursday.
Mwale, alongside Isabel Wilima Chinji, Brigadier Generals Michael Obister Mbewe, Evaristo Sakala, Frank Hardy Sinyangwe, and Dr John Phiri, faces four counts of willful failure to comply with procurement laws in connection with the jet’s acquisition.
They have all pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The ruling followed an application by the prosecution, led by Senior Counsel Daniel Ngwira, to present the aircraft as key evidence.
The State alleged the accused bypassed mandatory tender evaluation procedures when purchasing the jet from ElBIT Systems Limited in 2017.
Earlier, the court visited the site, to appreciate the evidence before court.
However, the witness on stand, ZAF Aeronautical Engineering and Air Defence Systems Chief, Brigadier General Paul Menshi, testified that he does not know whether or not procedure was followed in the procurement of the Gulfstream G650 Presidential Jet.
It is alleged in the first count that Mwale, Chinji, Mbewe, Sakala, Sinyangwe and Dr Phiri between March 1, 2017 and April 4, 2017 in Lusaka, being persons concerned with management and use of public revenue, as members of the Ministerial Procurement Committee for Ministry of Defence, jointly and whilst acting together, without following tender procedure wilfully failed to comply with section 52 (1) of the public Procurement Act No. 12 of 2008 as read with Regulation 113 of the Public Procurement Regulations, Statutory Instrument No, 63 of 2008 when they awarded contract no. MOD/MPC/024-17 for the Modernization of Defence Forces to ElBIT Systems Limited without Bid Evaluation.
By Lucy Phiri
Kalemba February 28, 2925
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