Mussa, who is the current governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) vice-president (Centre) was found with the case to answer and was charged with abuse of office, neglect of official duties and giving false information.

The veteran politician, who is the first accused in the case alongside four others, recently resigned as President Peter Mutharika’s special adviser on August 8 2019 through a letter to the Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC).

The case is being presided over by the High Court Judge Chifundo Kachale.

Initially, Mussa told Judge Kachale that he had issued the passports because principal secretaries had given him a memorandum containing some recommendations on the issue. He said he could not grasp properly the immigration and citizenship laws.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested Peter Katasha (Malawian national) on February 28 2017 for allegedly presenting false information that he was related to some foreign nationals who were applying for Malawi citizenship.

He was charged with uttering a false document contrary to Section 121 and Section 360 of the Penal Code.

On 6th March 2017, ACB  arrested  Mussa, and Davi Kwanjana [former senior assistant chief Immigrations officer now regional Immigration officer Centre and charged them with one count of neglect of official duties contrary to Section 121 of the Penal Code and misuse of public office contrary to Section 25B (1) of the Corrupt Practices Act.

ACB also arrested Pascal Rwasa, a Burundian national, for presenting false information that he was related to another foreign national who was applying for Malawi citizenship and also Esili Kubwimana, a Rwandan, for giving false information to Immigration officers.

State Prosecutor Kamudoni Nyasulu continued to cross examining Mussa on Tuesday.