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The Chief Justice in Blantyre heard an application today from legal practitioner Paul Maulidi, seeking to have his dismissed application restored in order to avoid being struck off the Roll of Legal Practitioners.
Maulidi attempted to convince Chief Justice Rizine Mzikamanda that his failure to attend court on the scheduled dates was not deliberate and was due to valid reasons.
However, Attorney General (AG) Thabo Chakaka-Nyirenda opposed the restoration of the matter, arguing that the defendant had failed to meet the conditions for restoration, including filing the application within the required seven days.
The AG pointed out that the current application was filed on February 27, 2025, eight days after the court order and beyond the seven-day deadline. He further argued that the application was an attempt to delay the hearing of the substantive case to strike him off, noting that the defendant had failed to prosecute the matter since 2010, despite being granted an opportunity to do so on February 19, 2025.
The court has adjourned the hearing, with a ruling to be issued on a date to be set. The AG had previously sought Maulidi's removal from the Roll of Legal Practitioners, citing allegations of embezzling client funds, leading to violations of the Legal Education and Legal Practitioners Act.
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