Chiunda, others granted bail

Suspended Malawi National Examinations Board (Maneb) executive director Gerald Chiunda and three others yesterday walked to freedom after the court granted them bail pending commencement of their case on March 24.

Zomba senior resident magistrate Lisa Chingoli yesterday granted bail to Chiunda, chief examination development officer Ishmael Faki, chief examination security officer Joseph Chilombe and head of security guards Owen Khuntho, who were arrested last week for allegedly failing to exercise due care and attention in relation to the security of national examination materials contrary to Section 14 (3) (a) of Maneb Act.

The magistrate ordered Chiunda, Faki and Chilombe to pay a bail bond of K100 000 each while Khuntho was asked to pay K50 000 cash bail bond.

Chingoli also ordered two sureties for each of the suspects bonded at K200 000 non-cash. Further, the accused persons and their sureties were asked to produce their national identification cards and to be reporting to the Eastern Region Police Headquarters fortnightly on Mondays.

“The accused should not interfere with State witnesses and investigations,” she said.

Particulars of the offence indicate that between April and September 2020, by virtue of their offices, Chiunda and his colleagues were charged with the responsibility of safely keeping, delivery, distribution, printing or processing of national examination materials. The charge sheet alleges that the accused persons failed to exercise due care and attention in relation to the security of the national examination materials, leading to the leakage of the 2020 Malawi School Certificate of Education examinations.

Ministry of Education subsequently nullified the examination and students had to take fresh examinations in January this year.

In his bail application on February 4, defence lawyer Alfred Lungu asked the court to release the accused persons on the basis that the offence against them was bailable. He also said the suspects had deep ties in the community with families; hence, would not be a flight risk.

In response, the State through Louis Makiyi did not object to the bail application as investigations were by then at an advanced stage.

The court has set March 24 2021 for the start of hearing where the State is expected to parade 11 witnesses.