LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s activist Sylvester Namiwa will spend the weekend at Maula Prison in Lilongwe despite being granted bail by the High Court on Friday.
Namiwa’s legal team told The Maravi Post that the activist will spend another night at Maula Prison.
The activist lawyer, Gift Mwenye said that although the court approved his release, administrative processes could not be finalised before the close of business,
Mwenye added that while the defense team successfully fulfilled the financial terms of the bail and had the court approve two sureties, official court documents, including receipts confirming payment of the MK5 million cash bond, were yet to be formally served on the Malawi Police Service.
Without the processed paperwork served on the police, prison authorities cannot legally discharge the activist.
“We tried our best to make sure the bail bond was paid and sureties were assessed and accepted.However, the police are yet to be served with the court documents so that prison authorities can be alerted to release him.
“This can now only be done on Monday because tomorrow is Saturday and not a working day,” worried Mwenye.
Presiding Judge Mzonde Mvula earlier granted conditional bail to Namiwa, who faces charges of treason and publishing false news likely to cause public alarm over comments made during a broadcast interview.
As part of his bail conditions, Namiwa was ordered to pay a K5 million cash bond, produce two reliable sureties executing MK10 million non-cash bonds each, surrender his passport, report to police every Monday and refrain from addressing press conferences or commenting on the case.
Namiwa spent already three weeks in police cell waiting bail application till today.
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