6 demonstration suspects released on bail
Lilongwe Principal Resident Magistrate, Viva Nyimba, has granted bail to six people who were arrested on various charges during the January 9, 2020 demonstrations in the capital.
Lilongwe Police publicist, Joseph Kachikho, said the suspects were charged with being found in possession of offensive weapons, malicious damage and assaulting a police officer.
“They appeared before the court on Tuesday and have been granted bail with a condition to pay K5,000 and surety and to be reporting to the police station once every fortnight,” he said.
Kachikho said the suspects, Charles Frank, Chifuniro Elad, Boniface Manyusa and Fanizo Ching’onga, are accused of endangering safety of people on public road along Lilongwe-Mchinji Road.
Other suspects, George Chisiyesiye and Lloyd Kambazake, are answering charges of being found in possession of offensive weapons and assaulting a police officer on duty.
The court has since adjourned the case to February 10 2020 for a hearing.
During the demonstrations, 20 people were arrested for breaking into shops and theft of goods at Area 18A, pelting stones at police officers and their houses at C Division Company.
Human Rights Defenders Coalition led the demonstrations to petition the police, demanding an immediate arrest of police officers who were involved in rape, defilement and sexual assault of women and girls in Msundwe, M’bwatalika and Mpingu areas in Lilongwe.
