Liars in Chasowa inquiry risk arrests

The Malawi Law Society (MLS) has said witnesses, who appeared before the Chasowa Inquiry and told lies on some aspects, as established by the commission, must be prosecuted.

The MLS, in a press statement issued on Monday, said the commission found that some of the witnesses who appeared before it were deliberately untruthful on certain aspects of their testimony.

The lawyers’ body, in the statement signed by its president John-Gift Mwakhwawa, recommended to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to prosecute these people without delay.

Reads the statement: “It should be put on record that knowingly giving false testimony…is a criminal offence under the Penal Code known as Perjury and Subornation of Perjury, respectively.

“Such offences are punishable with up to seven years imprisonment in the event of conviction. The society takes the view that those who further attempted to muddle the truth during the Chasowa Inquiry by knowingly telling the commission lies should not be allowed to getaway with it.”

The MLS urged police officers involved in the events leading to and after the death of the fourth-year Polytechnic student Robert Chasowa to stand down to lend credibility to the ongoing criminal investigation.

The statement reads: “While not every police officer who was involved in the events leading up to and after the death of Mr. Chasowa may be criminally liable, the Society believes that the conduct of most of these officers was most reprehensible and fell short of the standards demanded by the Constitution and other written laws.

“Consequently, and without prejudice to the errant officers’ right to be heard, the Society urgently requests the Inspector General of Police, the Police Service Commission and the Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security to take appropriate disciplinary measures against the said officers.

Chasowa was found dead at the Polytechnic campus in Blantyre of September 24 last year during the administration of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

A report by the Commission of Inquiry named DPP senior politicians, some senior and junior police officers as having played a role in his death.