Court reserves ruling on Chisale’s application

The Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal has reserved it’s ruling on an application made by former president Peter Mutharika’s bodyguard, Norman Chisale, to be released from what his lawyer Chancy Gondwe says is unlawful custody.

Chasale’s lawyers sued Attorney General Chikosa Sulungwe on grounds that Chisale has been kept in custody for more than the 30 days provided in the criminal procedure evidence code on holding murder suspects before being committed for trial.

The application was heard this morning in Justice Lovemore Chikopa’s chamber where the State, through Chief State Advocate Steve Kayuni, argued that Chisale is in a lawful custody based on decisions by the Chief Resident Magistrate, High Court and the Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal on his subsequent arrests.

Both sides will have to wait for the ruling on the application which Chikopa indicated will be made at a later date.

Chisale was arrested a month ago for allegedly having a hand in the gruesome murder of Issa Njauju of the Anti-Corruption Bureau.

He is also answering charges related to cement imported from Zambia in the name of former President Peter Mutharika.