The two are being accused of diverting K293 million about $409 790 out of the public coffers to their personal accounts.

Kapanga’s lawyer, Khumbo Soko, today on Thursday applied to the court to have the state witnesses recalled and examined by the new presiding Magistrate Patrick Chirwa who took over the case from Violet Chipao now judge of the High Court.

One witness had already testified and a second witness was expected to conclude testifying.

Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Steven Kayuni earlier objected to the request by the defence arguing that the matter has dragged for long and needs to be disposed.

The state is expected to parade six witnesses and one of the witnesses is based in Ethiopia.

The court has set 4th- 5th August 2021 to restart the hearing.

Kapanga was arrested in May 2016 in Malawi as part of investigations into the alleged plunder at the embassy in Addis Ababa.

A preliminary audit report into the suspected fraud revealed that the money was misappropriated, covering a period of 12 months.

Kapanga and Fletcher Chowe, who was first secretary for administration and finance, were suspended and recalled from mission after being implicated in the fraud.

The fraud was first detected when Chowe allegedly wrote a cheque of US$30,000 in his name and the cheque was signed by Kapanga.

Before her appointment to Ethiopia, Kapanga was a Deputy Inspector General of Police.