13 murder suspects granted bail

The High Court in Lilongwe has granted bail to 13 police officers arrested in connection with the murder of Buleya Lule, a suspect who died in police custody.

One of the lawyers in the case Enoch Chibwana confirmed the development in an interview but said the 13, including commissioner Evelista Chisale, are still in custody as the court will have to assess their sureties on Monday afternoon.

The court has granted bail on condition that each suspect produces two sureties, each surety bonded at K500 000 non-cash.

The suspects have also been asked to surrender travel documents, not to leave Lilongwe without informing the commissioner of police and report once every fortnight to police.

“They have not been released because the court will have to assess their sureties first. Once their sureties have been assessed and the court is satisfied then they will be released,” said Chibwana.

Chibwana said the suspects have already identified the sureties and they will be examined on Monday by the court registrar.

The 13 are accused of having a hand in the death of Buleya Lule who was a suspect in a case to do with abduction of a person with albinism.

Before his death, Lule threatened to reveal names of people involved in abductions and killings of persons with albinism in the country.