Judge, lawyer get death threats

High Court judge Justice John Chirwa and lawyer Zwelithini Chipembere of are receiving death threats from unknown people for their roles in giving court bail to murder suspect Ali Kaka Chinemba.

The two are mentioned in a typed note of A3 size titled Replacement Killers which is in Chichewa purportedly written by people describing themselves as concerned citizens.

The suspect, a businessperson-cum-politician, is alleged to have shot dead 20-year-old David Banda early this month after a quarrel over a lorry that was offloading sand, but blocked passage to his residence.

Kaka handed himself to police after the incident and had been on reprimand until last week Thursday when Justice Chirwa released him on court bail. In the matter, he was being represented by Chipembere.

The note, whose copy The Nation has seen, is warning the people who it alleges were bribed by money.

“Chenjezo kwa onse amene adya ndalama za mlandu wakupha munthu. Bail ya Ali Kaka Chinemba Banda iphetsa anthu osalakwa ngati awa…[Warning to all those who were corrupted in the murder case. Innocent people like… will die because of Ali Kaka Chinemba Banda’s court bail],” says the note.

Among the people mentioned include the prosecutor, his wife and children, lawyers from both parties, their wives and children and the judge, his wife and children and Ali Kaka’s wife and children.

In an interview on Thursday, Chipembere confirmed the development, but said he was yet to see the note.

“It’s true I have heard that news, but I have not yet seen the threat note. My partner [Lusungu Gondwe] received a phone call from police alerting that there were such threats.

“But I am not threatened at all. I am alright and calm, my life is going on as usual because there is nothing wrong I did. These people must know that the accused has the right to get bail and there is nothing we can do because it’s a constitutional right,” said Chipembere.

The letter is reportedly being distributed around Zingwangwa, Chilobwe and Chimwankhunda townships, according to a police source.

Justice Chirwa was not available, but Judiciary spokesperson Joseph Chigona said they were yet to see the note.

Relatives of the deceased openly showed their displeasure with the judicial system and invaded the High Court last week when Ali Kaka appeared before it to seek bail.

But according to police, they are yet to establish whether the death threat note was linked to family members or just some concerned members of community.