The State on Friday told the Mulanje Resident Magistrate Court that it has added another officer from Misanjo Police Unit in Mulanje, Charles Mbewe, to a case about the torture of a 13-year-old boy.
Initially, Mbewe’s workmate Frackson Chigaru was the only one answering a charge of negligent acts after the boy was kept in a police cell for four days with his hands tied with rubber bands.
The act resulted in the boy’s left hand and two fingers on his right being amputated.
The case returned to court on Friday where scores of villagers showed up to follow proceedings.
The State told the court that Chigaru and Mbewe, 51, willfully neglected their duty as police officers by keeping a 13-year-old, who was suspected to have committed a theft offence, in custody with hands tied at the back.
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One of the private lawyers, from the Centre for Human Rights Education, Advice and Assistance (Chreaa) Ruth Kaima, who is co-prosecuting the case, said the second officer is believed to have taken part in the boy’s torture.
“So, we had to ask the court to amend the charge sheet to include him. Since the prosecution team has been beefed up with us private lawyers, we sought an adjournment so we can discuss with our partners the way forward, which we have been granted,” Kaima said.
First Grade Magistrate George Chimombo has since granted the two officers bail on condition that they pay K250,000 cash bond and provide K1 million non-cash surety each.
They are also supposed to report to South East Region Police Headquarters every fortnight on Fridays.
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Chimombo has adjourned the case to March 6, 2024.
Apart from Chreaa, the Southern Africa Litigation Centre and the Malawi Human Rights Commission have also joined the case by providing their private lawyers.
