The adjournment comes after Judge Chifundo Kachale heard the case which started in 2017 for three consecutive days from Monday.

During the three days, state prosecutor Kamudoni Nyasulu SC cross examined Mussa who later was reexamined by his lawyer Paul Maulidi.

On Wednesday, lawyer Erick Salima representing second accused person in the case former Immigration Officer David Kwanjana started Examination-in-Chief on his client which he said was meant to allow him clarify some issues before commencement of cross examination.

Kwanjana told the fully packed court that between 2013 and 2014 when he was Chief Citizenship Officer in the Immigration Department people from Commonwealth countries were treated differently from citizens of other countries when seeking Malawian citizenship.

He said citizens of commonwealth countries were required to live in Malawi for 5 years while those from other countries seven years for them to qualify for the award of Malawian citizenship.

“In my time in office the law demanded that citizens from Commonwealth countries reside in Malawi for five years and those from countries outside the commonwealth which we referred to as aliens were required to reside in Malawi for seven years in order to qualify for the award of citizenship,” said Kwanjana.

Kwanjana added that citizenship application letters from foreigners were thoroughly checked before sending them to the Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security for consideration.

The examination in chief will continue on 13 January 2020 when case hearing will resume in court.

Kwanja is charged of neglecting duties and using his power to benefit others. He is answering the charges alongside the former cabinet minister Mussa, Peter Katasya, Esili Kubwimana and Pascal Rwasa.