Vuwa Kaunda demands K30 million in compensation for false imprisonment, malicious prosecution and defamation

Treason suspect Symon Vuwa Kaunda is demanding K30 million in compensation for false imprisonment, malicious prosecution and defamation, following events that took place after the High Court granted authority to enable him travel outside Malawi while on bail.

Attorney General Anthony Kamanga acknowledged receipt of the claim in an interview on Sunday.

He said he received the claim on Friday and has already responded on government’s position.

“We will not entertain that claim. Government will be contesting it should the matter go to court. This is a free country and he is at liberty to go to the courts,” Kamanga said.

In his claim to the Attorney General Anthony Kamanga, Kaunda’s lawyers Sikwese and Company argue that Kaunda suffered embarrassment when he was arrested at Kamuzu International Airport on his way to Brussels after he had obtained authority from the High Court for Parliament business.

“He was kept in custody at Lumbadzi Police Station until the 18th April 2013 when he was taken to High Court Lilongwe Registry, on an application by the State for forfeiture of bond on an allegation that our client was in breach of bail conditions,” reads part of the letter of claim to government.

Kaunda’s lawyers observe that the application was later withdrawn by the State and that the court had directed that the State should comply with the order that was issued on March 16, 2013.

In March this year, Kaunda who is a Member of Parliament for Nkhata Bay, together with a string of other local politicians and government officials including Democratic Progressive Party acting president Peter Mutharika, was arrested for the role he allegedly played after the sudden death of president Bingu wa Mutharika on April 5 last year.