Court imposes strict conditions as suspects face charges of property destruction and grievous bodily harm
By Burnett Munthali
The Chief Resident Magistrate Court in Lilongwe has granted bail to eleven individuals accused of involvement in violent incidents in Mponela.
The prosecution, represented by Austin Banda, argued that releasing the suspects on bail could compromise justice if no evidence were provided to ensure their attendance at court proceedings.
Despite the prosecution’s concerns, the court decided that bail could be granted under strict conditions to safeguard the legal process.
The eleven suspects include Munlo Makina, who is alleged to be the leader of the gang responsible for the attacks.
The accused are facing charges of property destruction and inflicting grievous bodily harm, acts that reportedly resulted in serious injuries to victims during the Mponela incidents in Dowa District.
In addition to financial bail conditions, the court has imposed the requirement for two sureties who must pledge a total of 2 million kwacha in case the suspects fail to appear.
Each suspect was required to pay a bail amount of 150,000 kwacha as part of the conditions set by the court.
The court also emphasized that the accused must not threaten any government witnesses or attempt to influence evidence in any way.
Magistrate authorities warned that failure to comply with bail conditions could result in immediate revocation and re-arrest of the suspects.
The bail decision aims to balance the rights of the accused with the need to maintain public confidence and ensure justice for victims of the violent attacks.
Law enforcement officers continue to monitor the situation closely to prevent any recurrence of violence or intimidation linked to the suspects.
The next court hearing is scheduled to further examine the evidence and determine whether the accused should stand trial for the alleged offenses.
