FMB robbery murder suspects denied bail

The High Court in Blantyre has denied bail to two suspected robbers in the ongoing murder case of police officer Patrick Mvula during a robbery at FMB in Blantyre last December.

Abel Chigwadala, 35, and Thomson Kamwendo, 30, who were arrested last December and remanded at Chichiri Prison, are accused of killing Mvula during a K112 million ($187 291) heist at FMB head office branch, Livingstone Towers in Blantyre.

They applied for bail on the grounds that the maximum pre-trial custody time limit, under part IV of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Code, had expired.

Lawyers Michael GobaChipeta and Wanangwa Hara representing Chigwadala and Kamwendo respectively, argued that the accused have a constitutional right to be released on bail as their trials were not known.

But senior State advocate Andrew Salamba objected to the application on grounds that the two were flight risks and might interfere with the case because Chigwadala had more than one place of residence which would be difficult to locate him while Kamwendo was allegedly dishonest with evidence.

Judge Dorothy NyaKaunda Kamanga agreed with the State.

“Upon hearing counsel for the 5th accused [Chigwadala]on the motion for bail pending trial… this court finds that in light of the provisions of section 42(2)(e) of the Constitution, there are valid reasons for not granting bail in the circumstances obtaining herein.

“This court exercises its discretion to deny the granting of the application bail in the matter herein and the application for release on bail by the accused is hereby dismissed,” reads part of the ruling.

Their three accomplices, Masauko Gulaya, 40, Felix Matope, 35, and 46-year-old Kenson Mbewe, are already on bail.