By Isaac Salima:
The Blantyre Chief Resident Magistrate Court has declined to vary bail conditions for a police officer and three others who are answering cyberbullying and defamation of character charges.
The four appeared in court Wednesday following their arrest last week on allegations that they recorded and shared a libellous voice note to the public.
The voice clip, that went viral on social media, was in relation to investigations into the murder of Coca- Cola Beverages employee Allan Wittika.
Three females were initially arrested over the issue before a male individual Symon Kaphale got picked later.
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Through their lawyer Colins Banda, the four— police officer Susan Kachinga Chinyati, Mercy Chiligo, Chipiliro Kalima and Kaphale—wanted the court to allow them to be reporting to South West Police Region offices once a month and not every Tuesday as is currently the case.
The suspects argued that the condition is an inconvenience to other businesses which they conduct.
However, Chief Resident Magistrate Chisomo Msokera rejected the application.
Actual trial of the case is yet to commence as the State, through prosecutor Damiano Kaputa, asked to be given two weeks to conclude its investigations.
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The case has since been adjourned to December 8 2023.
Meanwhile, Malawi Police Service (MPS) has interdicted Chinyati on full pay pending investigations into her case.
This is according to internal communication which MPS Deputy Director of Human Resource Management Maxton Kaimanjira has signed.
Wittika was found dead in the backseat of his motor vehicle in Lilongwe’s Area 15 on September 20 2023.
Police arrested Lester Maganga in relation to the death. He is expected to answer a murder charge.
