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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Ex-Malawi leader on theft charges | Ex-Malawi leader on theft charges |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Ex-Malawian President Bakili Muluzi has been arrested, accused of stealing $11m (£7.7m) in donor money, says the country's Anti-Corruption Bureau. | Ex-Malawian President Bakili Muluzi has been arrested, accused of stealing $11m (£7.7m) in donor money, says the country's Anti-Corruption Bureau. |
| The ACB said Mr Muluzi had been charged on 80 counts of allegedly siphoning aid cash into his private account. | |
| The former president is due to appear at a court in Blantyre, where hundreds of his supporters have gathered. | The former president is due to appear at a court in Blantyre, where hundreds of his supporters have gathered. |
| Mr Muluzi, a candidate in May polls, denies any wrongdoing and has disputed the legality of the ACB investigation. | Mr Muluzi, a candidate in May polls, denies any wrongdoing and has disputed the legality of the ACB investigation. |
| The BBC's Raphael Tenthani in Blantyre says the ex-president was arrested after appearing at the anti-graft bureau on Thursday morning to answer the allegations against him. | The BBC's Raphael Tenthani in Blantyre says the ex-president was arrested after appearing at the anti-graft bureau on Thursday morning to answer the allegations against him. |
| 'Right to remain silent' | 'Right to remain silent' |
| He says around 50 armed police and nearly 1,000 supporters of Mr Muluzi, who is not in custody, have gathered outside the magistrates' court in the city. | He says around 50 armed police and nearly 1,000 supporters of Mr Muluzi, who is not in custody, have gathered outside the magistrates' court in the city. |
| I think the political stratagem is fairly obvious Rafiq HajatPolitical analyst Muluzi faces moving on | I think the political stratagem is fairly obvious Rafiq HajatPolitical analyst Muluzi faces moving on |
| The former president's lawyer Jai Banda told AFP news agency his client had "exercised his right to remain silent" when questioned by the ACB. | The former president's lawyer Jai Banda told AFP news agency his client had "exercised his right to remain silent" when questioned by the ACB. |
| Mr Muluzi, who ruled the poor southern African nation from 1994 to 2004, was first arrested over the allegations in 2006 but the then-director of public prosecutions threw out the charges. | Mr Muluzi, who ruled the poor southern African nation from 1994 to 2004, was first arrested over the allegations in 2006 but the then-director of public prosecutions threw out the charges. |
| His supporters say the case is politically-motivated to stop him standing in the forthcoming presidential election. | His supporters say the case is politically-motivated to stop him standing in the forthcoming presidential election. |
| The inquiry comes amid concern that violence could flare before the forthcoming presidential election. | The inquiry comes amid concern that violence could flare before the forthcoming presidential election. |
| The former presidents of Mozambique, Joacquim Chissano, and Ghana, John Kufuor, were in Malawi on Wednesday to try to calm tensions. | The former presidents of Mozambique, Joacquim Chissano, and Ghana, John Kufuor, were in Malawi on Wednesday to try to calm tensions. |
| Current Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika fell out with Mr Muluzi | Current Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika fell out with Mr Muluzi |
| Henry Mvula, Mr Muluzi's aide, earlier told the BBC's Network Africa programme the former Malawian president had nothing to hide and dismissed the case as a witch-hunt. | Henry Mvula, Mr Muluzi's aide, earlier told the BBC's Network Africa programme the former Malawian president had nothing to hide and dismissed the case as a witch-hunt. |
| He said it was "meant to keep someone so busy within the context of the courtroom" in a "typical African way of running away from competition". | He said it was "meant to keep someone so busy within the context of the courtroom" in a "typical African way of running away from competition". |
| Malawi political analyst Rafiq Hajat told Network Africa: "If a court case is initiated against a candidate, their candidacy is immediately put into doubt. I think the political stratagem is fairly obvious." | Malawi political analyst Rafiq Hajat told Network Africa: "If a court case is initiated against a candidate, their candidacy is immediately put into doubt. I think the political stratagem is fairly obvious." |
| Opposition United Democratic Front leader Mr Muluzi plans to stand in May against current head of state, Bingu wa Mutharika. | Opposition United Democratic Front leader Mr Muluzi plans to stand in May against current head of state, Bingu wa Mutharika. |
| Mr Mutharika was Mr Muluzi's hand-picked successor but soon after he was elected, the pair fell out and Mr Mutharika formed his own party. | Mr Mutharika was Mr Muluzi's hand-picked successor but soon after he was elected, the pair fell out and Mr Mutharika formed his own party. |