Court orders Chisale mental examination

The High Court of Malawi has ordered Norman Chisale, personal bodyguard to former president Peter Mutharika, to go for mental examination at a public health facility to verify his claim that he has a mental illness.

Presiding Judge Ivy Kamanga ordered the examination yesterday after Chisale, who is on remand at Maula Prison for his alleged role in the murder of Anti-Corruption Bureau senior official Issa Njaunju in 2015 and three other charges, asked the court to release him on medical grounds.

During the matter heard in the judge’s chamber, the court said Chisale should go for further examination at a public hospital for mental examination before ruling on whether he should be released from custody.

Ministry of Justice spokesperson Pililani Masanjala, a State advocate, confirmed in an interview last evening that the court ordered Chisale to be examined at a public institution as there was doubt on whether Chisale was faking a mental illness or not.

He said: “I confirm that the court denied his application that he should be released from the custody. The court wants him to be examined by a public health institution before ruling.”

Earlier this month, Chisale, who served as State House head of security during Mutharika’s administration, was admitted to a private clinic in Lilongwe for over two weeks.

Maula spokesperson George Mkolongo said in an earlier interview Chisale was sent to a private clinic for treatment for high blood pressure.

The former president’s security chief is facing attempted murder charges, among many cases he will answer in court. He is also suspected of playing a role in the importation of K5 billion worth of tax duty-free allegedly using the former president’s privileges.

Chisale has been in custody since mid July.