Prosecutors have controversially discontinued a bribery case against convicted Chinese wildlife trafficker Lin Yunhua, securing his release from Dedza Medium Security Prison, according to Malawi24. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions filed a notice of discontinuance to end the proceedings. The Anti-Corruption Bureau had previously accused Lin of offering a K30 million bribe and promising to build a house for a prison official to influence a separate wildlife trafficking and money-laundering case.
The decision drew sharp criticism from anti-corruption campaigners, Nyasa Times reports. The National Anti-Corruption Alliance condemned the move, warning that it hurts the country's broader efforts to stamp out corruption. Activists pointed out that the current Director of Public Prosecutions, Fostino Maele, previously served as Lin's lawyer before taking office. This conflict of interest had already drawn scrutiny from the Malawi Law Society.