By Rahim Abdul
The Senior Resident Magistrate Court in Mzuzu has ordered the Malawi Police Service to pay millions of kwacha in damages to legislator and musician Fred Penjani Kalua, his manager David Kausiwa and road manager Steve Mkandawire.
The court ruled that the three were victims of false imprisonment, defamation and malicious prosecution following their arrest in 2020.
Kalua has been awarded K22 million in damages.While Kausiwa has been awarded K14 million.
Mkandawire has also been awarded K14 million.
The court found that the arrests caused reputational damage to all three individuals.
The trio was arrested in 2020 over allegations that they were involved in vote rigging in favour of former President Peter Mutharika.
The allegations stemmed from events surrounding the disputed 2019 General Elections.However, the court concluded that the actions taken against the three were unlawful.
The judgment found that the prosecution against them was malicious and lacked legal justification.The court further ruled that their detention amounted to false imprisonment.
It also held that the arrests and prosecution defamed the claimants and tarnished their public image.The damages awarded are intended to compensate them for the harm they suffered as a result of the arrests and prosecution.
The ruling brings to a close a legal dispute that has lasted for several years since the trio was arrested.
The Malawi Police Service is now expected to comply with the court order by paying the compensation awarded to Kalua, Kausiwa and Mkandawire.
