Court orders fairness on bank robbery suspect

Mzuzu First Grade Magistrate’s (FGM) Court yesterday ordered the State to accord bank robbery suspect Ken Kamwambi with dignity after his lawyers prayed for the same.

Kamwambi, a police officer, is among three suspects connected to the K500 million robbery at Standard Bank Mzuzu Branch in September 2014.

The suspect was brought to court handcuffed and his legs chained. Security officers guarding him carried guns and wore protective gear, including stab proof vests.

This prompted his lawyers, Leonard Mbulo and George Kadzipatike, to make an application requesting that he be treated with dignity. They argued he was only a suspect and not a criminal.

Said Kadzipatike: “Our client has been obedient while in custody and has never tried to escape but he is being treated like a notorious criminal.”

But State prosecutor Jacob Nambiri said the defence should make the application before the High Court in Blantyre where Kamwambi is answering other criminal charges.

“Kamwambi had already been granted bail by this court and when he appears before this court, he is treated like other suspects.

“However, he [Kamwambi] is answering other cases in Blantyre and that is why he has his legs chained and hands cuffed,” said Nambiri.

Magistrate Cuthbert Phiri sustained the defence’s application, ordering that Kamwambi should not be chained while in court.

However, the magistrate warned the lawyers to be careful on some issues, citing an incident where he (the magistrate) was attacked while another suspect escaped from the court through the window.

During the sitting where the State paraded two witnesses, the security officers misplaced keys for the chains they used on his legs, a development that forced the court to adjourn as officers looked for proper keys. It took about 10 minutes to unlock the chains. n