Police arrest UTM security officer over journo assault

February 18, 2019 Owen Khamula - Nyasa Times 20 Comments

Malawi Police have arrested the UTM Party security officer on allegations that he assaulted a journalist recently during the presentation of presidential nomination papers by vice president Saulos Chilima.

Arthur Bito, the UTM security officer being visited by UTM officials at Blantyre police station

Kondwani Kumitengo, lawyer for the UTM security officer confirmed to Nyasa Times the arrest of Arthur Bito.

“He was arrested on Thursday in Lilongwe and has been taken to Blantyre police station where the journalist lodged a complaint,” said Kumitengo.

Bito is alleged to have assaulted a Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) stringer George Banda, an assault which Chilima swiftly condemned and asked authorities to take to book the perpetrators.

Chilima also apologised to Misa Malawi, a professional body of journalists in the country, over the incident.

But Kumitengo said the police have denied Bito bail.

He said Bito is expected to appear in court Monday for the bail application.

Despite swiftly arrested Bito, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) rough necks who have been terrorising political opponents remain scot free.

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20 replies on “Police arrest UTM security officer over journo assault”

  2. Arthur Bito should defend himself by pushing the blame to MEC for not giving the journalist wearing material that would identify him as a journalist. Normally journalists wear something printed “PRESS”. this helps even when a journalists is reporting on battle ground, the warring parties do not touch them. So, this was not the security guard’s problem. but MEC’s.

    2. Man, there’s no provision anywhere for any security personnel,whether private or state, to be assaulting people that are misbehaving or whatsoever unless there’s a credible and undeniable proof of threat to life or a situation defined by Marshall order. Whether the journo put on anything,doesn’t warrant any assault of any kind.
      I understand you love your party so dearly but if this is the mindset that you all have and suppose u r making it into gvt, we aren’t any different not having these elections after all.
      Learn to look at things objectively and call a spoon, ‘a spoon’.

    3. Wearing the said ID often does not help reporters in conflict situations.
      UTM were just pumped up baasi. Arthu Bito aiwone Bangwe!
      Reckless UTM, and their so-called leader Mr Legeni wa Kandebvu.

        1. It is a well known principle in Law that you can’t get all criminals!
          And, you expect the incompetent Malawi Police to catch everybody?

    1. Do we have strategists with a say in DPP? Anyone with a head would know that this is actually campaigning for the opposition. Make no mistake I support Police action on this but what about those hudrums who humiliated our president under camera?
      This re-enforces the perception that Malawi Police diService is a sibling to DPP cadets.

  7. Paja ma cadet a DPP anamenya ma journalists ku Mzuzu, not even one stupid person was arrested. Mulangike pa dziko pompano anyani ainu

  8. You reap what you sow, you sow injustice you reap the same. One day selective justice will fell on those who are applying it selectively

  11. What the police have done is very good but they should also do the same to the DDP cadets who have been beating us in front of the police. They should start with the ones who beat up the journalist at the parliament in full view of adadi….

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