Hours after being granted bail by the Zomba First Grade Magistrate’s Court, police on Tuesday re-arrested 60-year-old businessperson Abdul Sattar Hassan for alleged illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
The court had on Monday granted Hassan bail after his alleged defilement and indecent assault of two teenage girls.
Hassan allegedly defiled a 14-year-old girl, contrary to Section 138 of the Penal Code and indecently assaulted a 15-year-old girl, contrary to Section 137 (1) of the Penal Code.
Eastern Region Police spokesperson Thomeck Nyaude alleged that State prosecutor Josephine Hlupekile Chigawa told the court that the suspect, who is not married, hired the two girls as maids at his home in Zomba City.
“On January 24 2013, the 14-year-old girl came to the city to look for a job and was employed by the accused. Later, a 15-year-old girl was also employed by the accused.
“On January 26 2013, the accused called the 14-year-old girl to his bedroom where he defiled her. A few minutes later, he also told the 15-year-old girl to come to his bedroom and fondle his private parts. A day later, the two girls met and discussed each other’s ordeals. It is at this moment that they reported the matter to Zomba Police Station,” he claimed.
Nyaude said Hassan pleaded not guilty to the charges and applied for bail, citing health reasons.
Magistrate Rosemary Liyawo had granted the suspect bail on condition that he pays a bail bond of K50 000 cash, surrender his travelling documents, reports to Zomba Police every Monday and two non-cash sureties of K100 000 each.
