Ben Phiri attacker nabbed, released on bail
Blantyre Police on Saturday arrested People’s Party (PP) provincial youth secretary for South, Manfold Kaunda, before releasing him on bail six hours later.
Kaunda was picked for interrogation in connection with the assault of Ben Phiri who is director of operations for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and personal assistant to President Peter Mutharika.
Blantyre Police spokesperson Elizabeth Divala confirmed Kaunda’s arrest, but said he was later released on bail while investigations were still continuing.
“He was arrested on suspicion that he is one of the suspects who assaulted [Ben] Phiri but we released him on bail as our officers continue with investigations into the matter,” said Divala.
In an interview with The Nation on Sunday, Kaunda said six plain-clothed officers invaded his house at Manase in Blantyre and took him to Blantyre Police Station.
“It was around 1pm when they came to pick me at my house to Blantyre Police Station. I was questioned before they released me around 6pm after some PP officials such as Mr Ken Msonda [PP spokesperson] and provincial governor [South] Isaac Nyakamera came to bail me out,” Kaunda said.
Phiri was allegedly assaulted on March 18 2014 at Sunbird Mount Soche in Blantyre by about 15 youths he identified as PP operatives who were led by the party’s youth director Lemani Chapitapansi.
He spent a few days at Blantyre Adventist Hospital after sustaining internal injuries.
Is this not part of revenge which the president said is not in his dictionary if at all the said dictionary exists?
In the first place, it appears Ben Phiri himself who happens not to be clean masterminded this arrest of Mr Kaunda.For equal justice,Ben Phiri also deserves to be arrested for being behind the Goliati killings which was followed his assault by the PP operatives as tit for tat tactic .Otherwise scenarios whereby the Police which is supposed to protect all of us is seen to be used to victimise us should never be tolerated. Memories are still very fresh about the use of the Police by the then DPP administration to kill late Robert Chasowa.
NO arrests yet for Goiati KILLINGS but for an assault? You are very right APM. Tiyenazoni bwana….kokera kwako otere siwabwino. Munthu m’modzi omenyedwa ndiofunika priority for investigations that the death of two people? Mxiiiiiiii!