Former State Residences deputy chief of staff Godfrey Arthur Jalale will remain in police custody until December 1 2025 after the Lilongwe Senior Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday denied him bail.
Making a ruling on his bail application and the State’s plea for his continued custody, senior resident magistrate Robert Botha said he agreed with the State’s submission that it will not be in the interest of justice to release Jalale, who is accused of stealing four dogs from State House, because investigations are still in progress and that the dogs are yet to be recovered.
“When everything has been considered in this matter, considering the positions of the two sides, I feel the interest of justice weighs against the release of the accused person from his detention at this moment. I agree with the State on their submission to have the accused further remanded in custody and I so order,” said the magistrate.
On Tuesday, the State asked the court for seven more days to conclude investigations and pleaded that the suspect should remain in police custody.
But the defence said the court should release the suspect from custody with or without bail.
On the State request for the seven days to complete investigations, Botha said the period is with effect from November 21 2025.
“They are expected to conclude their investigations on the 28th day of November 2025 and that within this period, the State is urged to make available all documents and materials necessary in this case, to the defence,” said Botha.
He adjourned the matter to December 1 2025 when it will proceed.
In an interview after the adjournment, lawyer Khwima Mchizi,who is representing Jalale, said he respected the ruling of the court, but added he wished the court had looked into the facts that the defence had raised.
He said the State needed to parade a witness to provide evidence as to why the suspect should not be released on bail but no investigator testified.
Jalale was arrested on Friday on suspicion that he stole four German Shepherds valued at K4 million. The offence is suspected to have been committed between September 19 and October 4 2025.
Former president Lazarus Chakwera and his team vacated State House in September after a five-year stay following his loss in the September 16 General Election to President Peter Mutharika of the Democratic Progressive Party who was sworn-in on October 4 2025.
