Camp court rescues 12 young offenders

Twelve young people suspected of committing various crimes have been released on bail following a camp court session held at Kachere Prison in Lilongwe last week courtesy of Irish Rule of Law International.

Through the programme, Irish Rule of Law International supported the Legal Aid Bureau and the Paralegal Advisory Service Institute (Pasi) in arranging the hearing for individuals as young as 15. Some of the youths had spent up to two years in prison without trial.

Irish Rule of Law International Malawi programme manager Erin Gregg observed that lengthy delays between arrest and trial have led to significant overcrowding in prisons across Malawi, adding this is particularly concerning for young people in conflict with the law.

He said there was no indication that the cases would be heard in the near future; hence, it was preferable that the offenders spend time contributing to their communities rather than waiting for years in adult prisons.

Granting bail to the 12, High Court Judge Fiona Mwale emphasised that those under the age of 18 cannot be placed in prisons under Malawi law.

She said: “I am granting bail as you are under the age of 18. You shouldn’t have been in Kachere Prison in the first place.”

Prolonged remand sessions for suspects referred from police holding cells has been mentioned as one of the contributing factors to congestion in the country’s prisons. n