Silver fans denied bail

The magistrate court in Balaka on Monday denied bail to two Silver Strikers fans Bruno Makina and Austin Phiri who have since been charged with proposing violence during a Super League match between Mighty Wanderers and Silver Strikers at Balaka Stadium last Saturday.

Lawyer Chrispin Sibande, who is representing the two suspects, said the second grade magistrate stated that he denied them bail to give chance to the prosecution to finalise investigations.

The court has since said it will make a determination on the bail application on January 6 2014.

“Basically, the prosecutor [Sub-Inspector Chande] asked for a week to complete the investigations, but I argued how granting the accused bail would affect the investigations.

“I also contended that the charge is minor that warrants bail for the accused, but the magistrate said he did not want to be blamed of not giving the prosecutor ample time for investigations and ruled that the accused would remain in custody,” said Sibande.

The lawyer said he was surprised that the two suspects were locked up later, after the police claimed that they were detained for their safety from the volatile situation.

Makina, 21, hails from Njolomole Village in Ntcheu while Phiri, 21, comes from Sitola Village in T/A Sitola in Machinga.