Chief Resident Magistrate Godfrey Balaka Tuesday granted bail to Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) vice president for the North, Jappie Mhango, who is facing charges related to abuse of office during his tenure as Minister of Transport and Public Works.
Mhango was arrested on Monday by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and charged with two counts of misuse of public office and providing false information to the bureau.
During the bail hearing, defence lawyer Christon Ghambi argued that Mhango is a well-known public figure with no flight risk. ACB lawyers did not object to the application.
The court granted bail on condition that Mhango must surrender his travel documents, provide a copy of his national identity card and report to ACB offices in Mzuzu every fortnight.
The court also ordered Mhango to pay a cash bond of K1 million and present two non-cash sureties valued at K500,000 each. These conditions were met.
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However, the bureau told the court that Mhango should not take a plea because two more suspects connected to the case are yet to be arrested.
Speaking in an interview, ACB Principal Legal and Prosecution Officer Daniel Nyasulu said they will consolidate the charge sheet once the remaining suspects are arrested.
“For proper management of the case, we thought Hon. Mhango should not take a plea until we arrest the other two suspects,” Nyasulu said.
After his release, Mhango was welcomed by supporters from his party and others from UTM and the United Democratic Front who came to offer moral support.
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During the bail hearing, some supporters chanted anti-government songs while others sang in praise of DPP leader Peter Mutharika.
Speaking outside the court, Mhango said his arrest was political.
“We will still go out there and tell people the truth of how this government has failed Malawians,” Mhango said.
Among the top DPP officials present at court were the party’s treasurer general Edger Tembo, Director of Youth Norman Chisale, several national executive and regional committee members and some clerics from Livingstonia Synod.
