Malawi throws out bid to revive graft charges against ex-president

A court of appeal in Malawi threw out a fresh bid by the country's graft-busting agency to revive charges against ex-president Bakili Muluzi, court officials said Tuesday.

The charges relate to alleged siphoning off millions of dollars in aid and state funds for personal use three years ago.

Court officials told AFP that the supreme court of appeal dismissed the bid by the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACB) to re-question Muluzi over the charges which were dropped three years ago.

In July 2006, Muluzi was arrested by the ACB and charged with 42 counts of corruption, theft and breach of trust for allegedly siphoning off 12 million dollars (9.5 million euros) of aid funds.

The country's top prosecutor later dropped all charges of corruption against Muluzi, saying there was no director at the ACB at that time to prosecute Muluzi.

Muluzi, who was head of state from 1994 to 2004, denied all the charges.

He was the most senior figure to face graft charges in a sweeping anti-graft campaign launched by President Bingu wa Mutharika, his successor and estranged protege.

Corruption was rampant during Muluzi's era.

Muluzi remains popular and holds the influential position of party chairman of the now opposition United Democratic Front.

The front has chosen Muluzi as its presidential candidate against incumbent Mutharika in next year's fourth general elections since 1994 in the former British colony.