By Rahim Abdul
A High Court judge in Lilongwe Justice Redson Kapindu has rejected a bail application by Chinese national Lin Yunhua, citing concerns surrounding the proposed conditions for his release as he faces corruption-related charges.
Kapindu ruled against Lin’s application, which sought his release from Dedza Prison while he continues answering charges stemming from allegations that he bribed prison officials.
Yunhua
Lin was arrested in connection with a 2019 case involving possession of protected wildlife products and was subsequently sentenced to 14 years in prison.
He was released in 2025 in circumstances widely attributed to a pardon by former President Lazarus Chakwera.
The current corruption case relates to allegations that Lin, while serving his sentence, bribed prison officials to facilitate the delivery of money to the judicial officer handling his case.
The money was allegedly intended to secure a lighter sentence or have the case discontinued.
Lin, who is currently remanded at Dedza Prison, applied for bail to allow him to continue answering the corruption charges while outside custody.
During the bail proceedings, the court raised concerns about the possibility of Lin absconding if released.
Two weeks ago, Lin’s lawyer, Powell Mkutabasa, proposed strict conditions aimed at addressing the concerns.
These include having Lin stay at his daughter’s residence, restricting his contact with members of the public and requiring police to regularly monitor the home.
The defence also proposed that Lin be accompanied and supervised whenever he needed to leave the residence.
However, in a ruling seen by 247 Malawi News, Justice Kapindu says the proposed restrictions will effectively amount to house arrest.
The judge further observes that there is no precedent in Malawi for imposing such stringent conditions on a person released on bail.
On those grounds, among other considerations, the court rejects Lin’s bail application.
Lin will therefore remain in custody at Dedza Prison as proceedings in the corruption case continue.
