Malawi court denies Briton bail: Arrested for child trafficking; 4 month baby amongst 7 children trafficked

A Briton arrested in Malawi over allegations of child trafficking has been denied bail.

Malawi Police arrested Roy Micheal Robson on Sunday on allegations that he had trafficked five female and two male infants from Mzuzu to Lilongwe.

Robson was arrested with his accomplice, a Malawian national Rabson Mwale.

Levison Mangani, prosecuting, told Lilongwe Magistrate Court on Tuesday that the Briton and his accomplice trafficked seven children including a four-month old from Mzuzu to Lilongwe’s squatter township of Area 24.

He said the two suspects have documents to show the children have been adopted but said the State need tin thoroughly investigate the matter.

“We would like to investigate the authenticity of the documents [of adoption],” Mangani told the court.

He cited am assessment letter from Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare which  said the adoption process was carried out in suspicious –manner.

“The ministry is concerned that a single male petitioner as a sole applicant was granted orders contrary to Rule 3, Section 2 (Adoption of Children Act CAP 26:01 Law of Malawi [that is] five female and two male infants,” reads the letter  signed by Mrs R Makhumula, addressed to Police.

According to the letter, the ministry is “astounded” that the Briton relocated from Mzuzu to Lilongwe immediately after being granted adoption.

Mangani asked the court not to release the suspects, saying the two may face mob justice if released.

In her ruling, Chief Resident Magistrate Ruth Chinangwa denied the suspects bail and adjourned the case to April 12.