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The Democratic Progressive Party interim President Professor Peter Arthur Mutharika and 10 other senior DPP officials, Civil servants and a top security officer now face treason charges following their Court appearance in the Capital city Lilongwe on Wednesday.
They have not been granted bail and have been moved to Maula Prison in Capital City.
Under Malawi’s Penal Code the maximum penalty for Treason is death which can be commuted to life imprisonment upon successful appeal.
The 11 are Prof Peter Mutharika, DPP officials Patricia Kaliati, Kondwani Nankhumwa, Nicholas Dausi, Henry Mussa, Symon Vuwa Kaunda and Jean Kalilani. Others are Economic Planning Minister, Goodall Gondwe, former guard commander, Duncan Mwapasa, Necton Mhura and fired State Chief Secretary, Bright Msaka.
The defense Team of five prominent lawyers includes Kalekeni Kaphale, Chancy Gondwe and Noel Chalamanda.
NyasaTimes also revealed that Former President Bingu wa Mutharika’s legal affairs advisor, who has also been charged with treason in absentia, is suspect number 12.
The DPP’s torch bearer in the forthcoming 2014 general elections also faces two counts of perjury and soliciting to break the law which is contrary to section 124 of the penal code.
Malawi police arrested all the alleged coup plotters on Monday after a commission of inquiry report into the death of former President Bingu wa Mutharika implicated them in a coup plot.
The Malawi Government has now engaged the services of private lawyers, Ralph Mhone and Fahad Assani to prosecute 11 Malawian politicians.
