Court relieves Kalindo in president insult case
Chief resident magistrate (CRM) Mzondi Mvula yesterday in Zomba discontinued hearing UTM director of youth Bon Kalindo’s case of insulting the President contrary to Section 4 of the Protected Flags, Emblems and Names Act.
Eastern Region Police prosecution officer Christopher Katani told the court that the State has resolved to discontinue with the case and continue with the one on disorderly conduct at Balaka Police Station contrary to Section 153 (1) of the Police Act.
Kalindo, a Mulanje South legislator, was arrested on Thursday, January 10 and granted court bail on January 14 as he was charged with the two cited cases allegedly committed on January 6 this year.
In his submission, Katani further asked the court to adjourn the case and give the State additional 21 days to have enough time to investigate the matter.
Speaking after the pleas, defence lawyer Bright Theu, who has replaced Kondwani Kumitengo, accepted the State’s request for additional days to further its investigations.
He, however, asked the court to grant them seven days to examine the disclosures from the day the State will submit the results.
On his part, Mvula scrapped off the charge sheet and signed for the discontinuation of the case on insulting the president.
He further ordered Kalindo to stand before court and read the particulars of the outstanding case to which Kalindo pleaded not guilty.
Mvula, therefore, ordered the State to gather the evidence for the case and serve the disclosures to the defence lawyer by February 8.
The magistrate further granted seven days to the defence lawyer to scrutinise the disclosures by February 15.
He later said the court will resume on February 19 through 20 for the accused to respond to the results of the investigations.
There were few police officers and no UTM Party members on the court premises as it were previously when Kalindo appeared for bail application. na
