Vice-President Saulos Chilima will be allowed extra time to review his charge sheet before entering a plea in the corruption case he is facing, according to the Malawi Financial Crimes Court.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has accused Dr. Chilima of collecting $280,000 (£230,000) and other unspecified items from a British businessman. The case was opened in court in Lilongwe, the country’s capital.
He was detained in November and given bail, but after the ACB made a request, the matter was moved to the Financial Crimes Court.
Dr. Chilima, who has previously claimed that the accusations against him are politically motivated, has not yet responded in court.
Judge Redson Kapindu commanded the ACB to give Dr. Chilima all the information on the case within seven days on Monday.
However, the anti-corruption organisation requested more time, and the court set the deadline for disclosures and the time at which a plea must be entered as of August 1.
Prior to that, the court reconvened on July 19 for a hearing on the bail restrictions after the defence requested their waiver.
Dr. Chilima has had his passport seized by the court and is required under the bail conditions to report to the ACB every three months.
