Supreme Court allows Pika Manondo out on bail
Businessperson Pika Manondo who is one of the suspects in former Malawi budget director shooting has been allowed to go home on bail after Supreme Court Judge Jane Ansah gave bail conditions on Tuesday.
Justice Ansah imposed a K200, 000 cash bail bond on Manondo and that he should provide two sureties each bonded K500, 000 not cash.
His release awaits examination of sureties on Wednesday at the court.
Manondo, whose lawyer Wapona Kita said he is poorly, has been ordered to surrender all his travel documents.
He is also required to report at Lilongwe police station very Friday and has been told to inform police when he intends to travel outside Lilongwe.
Manondo has been in custody since November 2013 answering various charges, among them conspiracy to commit murder linked to the shooting of former budget director Paul Mphwiyo alongside his lawyer Ralph Kasambara and three others.
He is also Kasambara’s co-accused in the money laundering case in which the lawyer’s firm is said to have processed a K55 million (US$135 135) cheque from Manondo in the purchase of a house.
Manondo applied to the Supreme Court of Appeal for bail after the High Court in Lilongwe refused to release him because he was a flight risk.
Justice Ansah agreed with submissions of Manondo’s lawyers that the State did not provide evidence that he is a flight risk.
