Chisale out on bail: Malawi Supreme Court orders unconditional release from ‘illegal detention’

Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal (MSCA) has ordered the unconditional release of former president Peter Mutharika’s bodyguard, Norman Chisale, after his lawyer Chancy Gondwe applied to court to release Chisale from what he argued was unlawful custody.

Gondwe confirmed that Justice Lovemore Chikopa on Friday ruled that Chisale be released and that from custody.

“Having been released from illegal detention/ custody, we see no reason to attach any special conditions to such release. They would be superfluous anyway,” reads an order made by Justice Chikopa on Friday, October 2.

Justice Chikopa pointed out that Chisale is already on bail granted to him by the High Court in Blantyre on July 27 2020 and the Magistrate Court in Lilongwe.

“If there is any need for conditions we feel the ones imposed in those matters are sufficient,” ruled the court.

The former president’s security chief is facing attempted murder charges, among many cases he will answer in court.

But Justice Chikopa pointed out that since his arrest on July 28 2020, Chisale has not been charged with any offence before any court.

“Neither has he been committed for trial before the High Court in view of the fact that he was arrested on allegations of homicide,” he said.

Chisale is also suspected of playing a role in the importation of K5 billion worth of tax duty-free allegedly using the former president’s privileges.

He has been in custody since mid July.

Earlier this month, Chisale, who served as State House head of security during Mutharika’s administration, was admitted to a private clinic in Lilongwe for over two weeks.