Sudi Adaki Sulaimana has pleaded not guilty to all 21 charges against him ranging from illegal possession of prohibited weapons and security agencies’ uniforms to court stamps.
The State, through South West Police Region prosecutions officer Charles Panyani, outlined the charges to Sulaimana and tendered the items he was allegedly found in possession at a lodge in Machinjiri Township, Blantyre.
The prosecutor told chief resident magistrate (South) Paul Chiotcha that the items include 46 Malawi Defence Force (MDF) uniforms, four police uniforms, two pistols and teargas hand grenades.
Panyani said Sulaimana, who was arrested on July 16 2026, was also found in possession of forged stamps purportedly belonging to several institutions, including Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Lands, Ministry of Justice, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, the High Court of Malawi, various magistrates’ courts and National Bank of Malawi.
But Sulaimana, who has no legal representation, pleaded not guilty to each of the 21 counts.
In narrating the events leading to his arrest, the first State witness, Ruth Mulewa, who is the general manager of the lodge where he was arrested, told the court that she initially noticed that some items, including a refrigerator were missing from the premises.
She said she suspected that the lodge’s caretaker Patrick Kaunda could have been connected to the missing items and reported the matter to South Lunzu Police Unit.
Mulewa told the court that when police visited the lodge to investigate, they found four MDF uniforms hanging on the flowers and Kaunda allegedly told the officers that the uniforms belonged to Sulaimana’s friends, who had washed them.
“This prompted police to enquire more about Sulaimana, whom we only knew as Adaki Chapita. This is when Patrick disclosed that Sulaimana had booked a room for a number of days and that his belongings were still in the said room,” she said.
She further said police along with her subsequently broke into the room, where they found four bags containing various items.
During cross-examination, Sulaimana asked Mulewa whether she knew how long he stayed at the lodge and when he made the booking.
In response, Mulewa said Sulaimana booked the room on a daily basis and, at times, stayed for longer periods.
But Sulaimana further asked Mulewa if she had a receipt or tenancy agreement to prove that he booked a room at the lodge to which Mulewa said no.
Sulaimana later applied for bail, arguing that he is asthmatic and that Blantyre Prison, where he has been remanded since July, has limited space and inadequate healthcare facilities.
“The State wishes me dead for reasons known to itself. It will please this court for me to be alive and conclude this matter,” he said.
Objecting to the bail application, Panyani argued that there was a high likelihood that the accused would interfere with civilian witnesses if released.
But Sulaimana said he had previously faced treason charges, which carry a life sentence, yet he never interfered with witnesses and asked the court to grant him bail.
Chiotcha reserved his ruling on the bail application to a date to be communicated later and adjourned the matter to September 16 2026, when the State will continue parading its witnesses.
Panyani said the State has 24 witnesses.
