Mchacha charged for corruption and insulting: Granted bail together with PS Kumwembe
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) regional governor (South) Charles Mchacha has been formally charged with corruption offences when he appeared before Principal Resident Magistrate Viva Nyimba in Lilongwe and has since been released on bail waiting for consent from Director of Public Prosecution to proceed with the trial.
Mchacha appeared at the court together with Ministry of Defence principal secretary Bright Kumwembe who has been charged with giving false information and neglect of official duty.
DPP politician has been charged with four counts of which three are inducing public officers to perform their duties corruptly and the other count is using insulting words against Nation Publications Limited journalist Bobby Kabango and his mother.
However, the two will not take plea as Anti-Corruption Bureau is yet to get consent to prosecute from Director of Public Prosecution.
Lawyer for ACB Victor Chiwala said they need to make one more arrest in the Mchacha and Kumwembe case before starting to prosecute the matter hence it has not acquired consent to prosecute.
Chiwala said once the arrest has been made, consent will be sought and ACB will also ask the court to set date to commence trial.
Lawyer for Mchacha, Chancy Gondwe has asked the court to release the DPP regional governor unconditionally, saying his arrest was unlawful as he was arrested while on duty as member of parliament.
Gondwe argued that there is need for the chief justice to certify the matter, saying the case against him should be stayed until the certification by chief justice.
He added that in the event that the issue of certification is not considered, Mchacha and Kumwembe should be released on bail saying ACB is yet to get consent and it is not known when the consent will be ready.
The State did not object to the application for bail.
Meanwhile the court has granted bail Mchacha PS Kumwembe on conditions that they each make a deposit of K500 000 cash bond, produce one surety bonded at K500 000 noncash,
The two suspects will now have to report to ACB once every fortnight (on Friday), surrender travel documents and should not interfere with state witnesses.
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Mbuzi ya munthu imeneyi imatumbwa ngati kuti dziko la Malawi ndi lake. Ifinyidwe mpaka isanze chimanga ndi kutuluka misonzi ya blue
Charles mchacha already apologised for the insults in presence of the journalist’s bosses at nation newspaper. The said journalist accepted the apology so why arrest him for a matter that was settled out of court?
No, I disagree with you in totality. A Cabinet Minister is a very respectable position in government; again, titled as an Honourable Member of Parliament, he should have been the last person to use foul language. Here is a person who held a Diplomatic Passport, who at any time could be sent outside Malawi to represent the nation. As a nation, we should have felt very sorry for ourselves. Public servants should learn to hold their emotions; as they are the flag carriers. Let others who are holding public positions now and those who are going to serve us in… Read more »
Does ACB prosecut abusive language?
Certainly a stupid charge and waste of Court time in 2020 on an outdated Lae
Zangoyambapo
Walawako Mchacha kuchitolokotsi amayesa Malawi ndi wa Peter Muntharika iye ndi DPP iye ?? Ili ndi dziko man . Kutukwana munthu ngati mwamisala bwanji?
Mwinatso wamisala kukhala wa nzeru ndithu.