Wandale pleads not guilty to four counts: denied bail

Peoples Land Organisation (PLO) leader Vincent Wandale has pleaded not guilty to all counts leveled against him.

Wandale together with his co-accuse appeared before Blantyre Magistrate Court on Thursday where all pleaded not guilty to four counts namely; Conspiracy to commit a misdemeanour, unauthorized use of land, Inciting violence and criminal trespassing.

The PLO leader was arrested on Saturday September 2, 2016 in the capital Lilongwe following the fracas that erupted in Thyolo where villagers invaded one of the Tea Estates in the district.

During the hearing, the presiding Magistrate Thokozani Soko denied Wandale and others bail plea for safety reasons, saying the issue is sensitive.

Soko also said since the accused stays in different places it will be difficult to trace them during the trial.

The Magistrate also rejected Wandale’s plea to change the case from criminal to civil and that other accused persons should not be tried as individuals but him and the trustees, saying the 23 people were arrested as individuals.

The case has since been adjourned to September 12 2016.