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Mzuzu mental patient moved to Zomba

Police in Mzuzu have taken a mentally ill man, who had been attacking women in the city, to Zomba Mental Hospital.

The decision to take the man, popularly known as Mateyu, to Zomba came after Nation on Sunday of March 10 2013 reported that he was terrorising women in the city.

One woman had to be rescued by passers-by after he attacked her.

Mzuzu Police spokesperson Maurice Chapola said Mateyu was taken to the mental institution on Tuesday last week.

“He left on Tuesday and as we are talking, he is at Zomba Mental Hospital,” said Chapola.

He said a day before he left for Zomba, Mateyu smashed the windscreen of an Escom vehicle.

Chapola said police provided a vehicle while the Mzuzu Magistrate’s Court provided K125 000 (about $320) for fuel.

This was after the Department of Legal Aid had obtained a court order to allow police to take Mateyu to Zomba.

Principal legal aid advocate Dzikondianthu Malunda confirmed obtaining the order, which paved the way for Mateyu to be taken to the hospital.

“It is called Reception Order, which is obtained against an insane person to get treatment. Police cannot get such a person without an order from the court,” said Malunda.

He said initially, the order is supposed to be obtained by parents of the patients, but this one was taken on behalf of Mzuzu Police officer-in-charge.

“The argument was that he was a security threat who was smashing vehicles and mistreating women. This was enough reason to obtain a Reception Order,” said Malunda.

He thanked Nation on Sunday for reporting the story.

lass=MsoNormal>Gondwe, Mulli’s lawyer, declined to comment on the matter when contacted.

 

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