Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) vice-president (North) Jappie Mhango walked to freedom yesterday after being formally charged with two counts of misusing public office when he served as Cabinet minister.
Following his arrest on Monday by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), the Rumphi North legislator spent a night at Mzuzu Police Station before he was taken to ACB offices in Mzuzu where officers interviewed him.
While the process was happening at ACB offices, scores of DPP supporters, some of whom had camped close to Mzuzu Police Station along the Orton Chirwa Highway Monday evening, started marching around Mzuzu.
The supporters later moved to the Mzuzu Courthouse before some DPP officials asked them to keep away from the premises. They obliged.
In court, ACB principal legal and prosecutions officer Daniel Nyasulu said Mhango would not take his plea yesterday because there were two other suspects yet to be arrested.
Mhango was then formally charged with two counts of misuse of public office contrary to sections 25E and 34 of the Corrupt Practices Act (CPA) and also providing false information to ACB contrary to Section 14 (1a) of the CPA.
Nyasulu told the court: “We brought the suspect to court complying with the constitutional provision that he has to be brought before court within 48 hours and be charged and informed of why he was arrested.
“There are other suspects on whom we want to execute warrants of arrest. After executing these warrants of arrests, we will bring them to court together so that they take plea.”
But controversy arose after the defence, led by lawyer Christon Ghambi, applied for bail.
While not objecting to the bail application initially, Nyasulu later changed tune, insisting that the defence should furnish the court with clear particulars of Mhango’s residence in Chimaliro, Mzuzu.
“If that is not provided, then we object to the bail application,” he said.
However, Ghambi prayed to the court that they provide such details today and that in the event that the same is not provided, the court would be at liberty to revoke the bail during the next court session.
After an hour’s recess, chief resident magistrate Godfrey Balaka granted Mhango bail and asked him to surrender his travel documents as well as a copy of his national identity card.
He is also supposed to report fortnightly at ACB offices in Mzuzu, pay cash bond of K1 million and surrender two sureties non cash valued at K500 000 each.
There was jubilation outside the court after the bail was granted, as hundreds of supporters chanted political songs in praise of Mhango and the DPP.
Mhango said: “It’s an interesting experience, never expected this, but it is one of those things in life. Politics is a journey with ups and downs, but out of this, I have come back stronger.”
Nyasulu has said they will inform the court after effecting arrests the other two suspects while Ghambi said they are ready for the case.
DPP officials present at the court included national director of youth Norman Chisale, treasurer general Edgar Tembo, Chimwemwe Chipungu, Paul Gadama, Khwauli Msiska and Dyton Mussa. There were also representatives of UTM Party in the vicinity.
ACB arrested Mhango on Monday on allegations that between 2016 and 2017, when he was minister Transport and Public Works, he misused his public office.
