13 Police officers’ bail fate Friday
The High Court in Lilongwe yesterday reserved for Friday a bail ruling for 13 police officers who were arrested in connection with the murder of Buleya Lule in police custody last year.
The court sat in chambers yesterday to hear bail applications for the 13, including acting Commissioner Evelista Chisale. However, Judge Ivy Kamanga reserved the bail ruling for Friday.
Speaking in an interview after the court sitting, lawyer for 12 of the suspects, Lughano Mwabutwa, said all the 13 suspects are seeking bail and their fate will be known on Friday.
However, he could not disclose the arguments made before the court over the bail application, saying such a disclosure would not be appropriate.
“The ruling is going to be pronounced on Friday, around 10 o’clock (in the morning). It is very difficult to say what is going to be the outcome on Friday, but let us wait patiently,” he added.
Chisale’s lawyer Enock Chibwana said any person is entitled to bail, unless there are other reasons.
He added that if his client would be released on bail, she would not affect evidence, nor confront witnesses nor affect investigations in any way.
“We have made an application. But it is the court that will decide. So, let’s wait for Friday,” Chibwana remarked.
Directorate of Public Prosecution spokesperson Pilirani Masanjala said the State objected to the bail applications.
However, he could not give details of the objections made, saying the matter is in court.
The suspects, who were not present at court, will continue to spend nights in prison until Friday when the court will make the determination on whether to grant them bail or not. The suspects have been in custody for about two weeks.
The 13 are accused of having a hand in the brutal death of Lule, a suspect in another case relating to the abduction of a person with albinism in Dedza. On the first day of trial in Lilongwe, Lule hinted that he would reveal people behind abductions and killings of persons with albinism.
But he died soon after that court session, and the police officers who were looking after the deceased in police custody and their boss, Chisale, are being tried for the matter.
