By Cathy Maulidi:
Activist Bon Kalindo was released from custody Thursday, after spending a night in a police cell in Dwangwa, Nkhotakota.
His lawyer Stanley Chirwa confirmed the development, saying Kalindo was released following a court order that suspended his warrant of arrest.
“Yes, he has been released,” Chirwa said.
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Also confirming the development, Malawi Police Service spokesperson Peter Kalaya said the law enforcers released Kalindo following the court order.
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“The court suspended the warrant of arrest that was issued by the same court on 28 August 2023 and ordered that Kalindo be released from detention.
“The court further ordered that the parties in the case should attend an inter-partes hearing on 8th September 2023. So, we have only complied with this court order,” Kalaya said.
On why the police moved Kalindo from Lilongwe to Nkhotakota, Kalaya said: “The police can keep a suspect anywhere.”
On Wednesday, police arrested Kalindo as he was about to lead people in anti-government demonstrations aimed at forcing President Lazarus Chakwera to act on challenges besetting the nation.
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He was arrested at the Lilongwe District Commissioner (DC)’s office, where he went to deliver to the DC a court ruling that allowed him and his colleague Redson Munlo to hold the demonstrations at the State House, save 100 metres away.
According to the police, Kalindo was arrested for disobeying bail conditions in a case where he is accused of illegally connecting electricity to his house in Area 25, Lilongwe.
