Court releases JB’s aide on bail, convicts him on drink-drive: Updated

Blantyre Magistrate court has ordered the release on bail of Tusekele Mwanyongo, an aide to former President Joyce Banda who was arrested on Friday morning as the court convicted and fined him on Drink and Drive offence aside charging him on another offence of abducting a police officer.

On Friday Mwanyongo told Nyasa Times that he was arrested on accusations that he was the face behind the Facebook account by the name of Gerald Kampanikiza who is regarded as a strong critic of President Peter Mutharika and his ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

However, facts presented in court on Friday afternoon indicate otherwise; court documents indicate that Mwanyongo was arrested on Friday morning for driving while under influence of alcohol contrary to Road Traffic Act and for resisting arrest by abducting a police officer.

Mwanyongo was found by police officers who were patrolling at Chemusa Township, Blantyre in a drunken state whilst driving his motor vehicle. He was told to drive to Blantyre police station under escort of a police officer constable Likagwa (No. B2023).

However, before entering the gates of Blantyre police station at Wenela, he sped away heading to his home, Chilomoni Mthukwa abducting the police officer who was escorting him.

The court was told that the abducted officer called his workmates at office for his rescue and they immediately responded and managed to rescue him before arresting Mwanyongo on a fresh offence of Obstructing Police Officers on Duty.

Senior Resident Magistrate Viva Nyimba convicted Mwanyongo on drunk and drive office and fined him K10, 000 which he paid. The court granted him bail on the second offence of Obstructing Police Officers on Duty contrary to Section 256 (b) of the Penal Code with case adjourned to May 6th, 2016.

Police Reaction

Following the court ruling National Police have moved in to quash earlier reports that claimed Mwanyongo was arrested on political related trumped up charges.

National police Public Relations Officer, Nicholas Gondwa told Nyasa Times that the court has vindicated the police service over Mwanyongo’s arrest.

“The Penal Code criminalizes obstruction of police officers whilst on duty. As such to link this arrest of Mwanyongo to politics is just misinforming the public and misrepresentation of facts,” bemoaned
Gondwa.

He added: “Malawi Police Service is informing the general public especially motorists that it will continue enforcing road traffic rules and regulations to reduce road carnage in the country. Basing on these facts, it is not true that the arrest of Mwanyongo by the police service was a directive from any above as alleged”.