Lawyer wants cops out of colleagues’ cases
Justin Dzonzi, a lawyer and social commentator, has proposed the establishment of a special unit to be prosecuting police officers who collide with the law through involvement in criminal activities.
Dzonzi, who is executive director of Justice Link, made the suggestion in an interview in the wake of increasing criminal cases involving police officers that have stalled.
He said: “When police officers handle cases involving their colleagues, there is conflict of interest which can result into compromising justice. A special unit should be established to handle cases involving not only police officers, but members of the Judiciary as well.”
However, government says while the suggestion is welcome, there is need for wider consultations before a final decision is made.
A police prosecutor in Blantyre claimed cases involving police officers were difficult to handle; hence, rarely concluded.
University of Malawi’s Chancellor College associate professor of law, Mwiza Nkhata, recalled that in the past, police prosecutors were taken from a different station to prosecute cases involving fellow cops.
He said: “This might not be happening now because of financial reasons, but it is the ideal arrangement. Again, the new Police Act provides for an Independent Complaints Commission whose mandate is to handle such cases but I doubt if it will have capacity.”
Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security Atupele Muluzi said he will take the matter into consideration after consulting the Inspector General and Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.
“However, we should understand that there is a new threat of organised crime which has infiltrated everywhere, including the police. It is something that is a problem and we need everyone to come in and assist,” said Muluzi.
In recent months, there have been a number of criminal activities where police officers have been involved.
For example, late last year a police officer was involved in the robbery of K500 million from Standard Bank Malawi Limited’s Mzuzu Branch. There was another K6 million robbery involving police officers at a casino in Blantyre while in Kasungu, two police officers were arrested in connection with the robbery of K1.7 million (US$3 778).
During a break-in last August at former president the late Bingu wa Mutharika’s Ndata private residence, police officers were also involved and arrested.
