Lilongwe Chief Resident Magistrate Violet Chipawo Wednesday granted bail to Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (Mera) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Collins Magalasi, stating that the bail will not jeopardise any ongoing investigations towards the fraud charges brought on Magalasi.

Also according to Chipawo, the state did not provide a solid explanation as to why Magalasi should remain in custody. However, she ordered Magalasi, along with others accused in the case, to surrender all travel documents, report to the police every fortnight, they should not interfere with witnesses and should not leave Lilongwe without notifying the court.

Three weeks ago, the Minister of Energy Newton Kambala emphasized that the current administration wants efficiency and anybody without efficiency will be dismissed. During a tour at the Mera head office in Lilongwe, Kambala is quoted saying “Government will not spare anybody involved in corruption here at Mera or any other public institutions,”.