Malawi cop convicted for soliciting bribes from suspect: Suspended sentence
Blantyre Magistrates Court has convicted Police officer, Felix Mloiwa for soliciting money in order to release a suspect on police bail.
Mloiwa, who has since lost his job following the conviction, was stationed at Mpemba Police Unit, Blantyre and was arrested in December, 2010 by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) following a complaint alleging that the officer solicited a bribe.
According to information tendered in court, the ACB instituted an investigation and managed to arrest Mloiwa as he was about to receive K5, 100.00 bribe.
Mloiwa was charged with four counts of corrupt practices by public officer and one count of abuse of public office contrary to Sections 24(1) and 25B (1) of the Corrupt Practices Act.
And on Wednesday, the Blantyre Chief Resident Magistrate’s Court found Mloiwa guilty of the count of corrupt practices by public officer.
He was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment with hard labour but later suspended the sentence on grounds that the convict has lost employment in the police service as well as his terminal benefits.
However, the Prosecution moved the Court to order that the exhibits, in form of money which was tendered in court should be remitted back to the owner in accordance with Section 149 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Code. The Court has granted the order.
Police bail is for free, and members of general public are usually urged to report any officer demanding payment for the free bail.
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