Remanded Norman Chisale, a personal bodyguard to former president Peter Mutharika is in hospital after suffering high blood pressure.
Malawi Prison Service and Chisale’s lawyers yesterday confirmed that he was receiving medical treatment at a private clinic in Area 3 since September 4 2020.
In an interview yesterday, Maula Prison spokesperson Donald Mkolongo said Chisale was referred to the clinic on September 4 2020 due to high blood pressure and that on that day he had fainted.
The suspect’s lawyer Chancy Gondwe also confirmed his client’s illness.
He said his client collapsed while on remand at Maula Prison and that he was currently under medical observation.
Gondwe said he could not discuss more about Chisale’s illness as matters of health hinged on personal privacy.
He also indicated that he had filed an application to the court for the release of Chisale “not only for his sickness, but because he is unlawfully detained”.
Since his boss, Mutharika, left State House after his defeat in the court-ordered fresh presidential election on June 23, Chisale has been arrested four times and denied bail.
Chisale was first arrested on July 14 2020 and charged with fraud and money laundering in relation to the controversial importation of K5 billion worth of cement allegedly using Mutharika’s duty-free status. He was re-arrested on July 17 soon after being granted court bail on another offence, but was again arrested for yet another offence on July 28.
Chisale was re-arrested for the third time for his alleged role in the murder of former Anti-Corruption Bureau senior official Issah Njauju. His fourth arrest, while still in custody, was connected to his alleged use of a Malawi School Certificate of Education to secure employment in the Malawi Defence Force.
The Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal dismissed Chisale’s application for an order to prevent his further arrests, saying granting such open-ended relief would frustrate law enforcement.
