Court release on bail suspects arrested for damaging police unit
The Mzuzu First Grade Magistrate Court has granted bail to 11 people who were arrested a fortnight ago for allegedly vandalizing Enukweni Police Unit in Mzimba District.
Granting the bail, First Grade Magistrate Brian Sambo said the defendants deserved to be on bail in respect of Section 42(2) of the Penal Code which allows suspects to be granted bail after a stay of 24 hours in police custody.
“The accused have stayed close to two weeks in police custody and considering all arguments from both the state and the defendants, I grant them bail on condition that they fulfill conditions of the bail,” said Sambo.
The magistrate also said he had granted bail to the suspects following a complaint from Mzuzu Prison.
“Our colleagues at Mzuzu Prison have complained that the suspects’ continued stay on remand would contribute to congestion, “he said.
Sambo ordered each of the suspects to pay a bail bond of K50, 000 and bring with them two sureties to the court which they fulfilled.
“The suspects are also ordered to be reporting to Bwengu Police Unit once every fortnight and should not leave Mzimba District without the knowledge of the Commissioner of Malawi Police Service for the North,” said the Magistrate.
The suspects are each answering 6 counts of which theft has been recorded twice, unlawful wounding, malicious damage and assault that also appears twice on the charge sheet.
The case has since been adjourned to December 6 when the state is expected to parade ten witnesses.
