Tag Archives: Senior Resident Magistrate Rodrick Michongwe

Law and order, Malawi

Wildlife criminal convict and corruption suspect Lin Yunhua confesses sneaking out of prison to seek services

MaraviPost

…..Pleaded not guilty to seven charges…

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Wildlife crimes and money laundering convict Lin Yunhua on Friday, March 14, 2025 confessed in the court sneaking out of the Maula prison to seek a number of services with support from warders.

Yunhua made the confession when he was pleadeding not guilty to seven corruption and public officers use charges leveled against him.

When he appeared before Principal Resident Magistrate Rodrick Michongwe today in the capital Lilongwe to take plea, Yunhua pleaded not guilty to all the seven counts.

The convict delayed the court during charges reading despite being supported with chinese interpreter.

Yunhua kept on interrupting the court by telling the Chinese interpreter that he did not corrupt any prison officer but rather he was helped to sneak out of the cell to visit his home, businesses.

“I understand the charges but I didn’t commit any of these charges. These prison officers were the ones who approached me to get help from me then they allowed me to exit the cell for other services including buying water,” confessed Yunhua.

But Magistrate Michongwe told the convict that the sitting was meant to reach charges to him by whether to deny or accept them.

Following a plea of not guilty, Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) principal legal and prosecutions officer Peter Sambani told the court that the State will parade 10 witnesses to prove the case.

Eventually, Principal Resident Magistrate Michongwe has adjourned the matter to April 8, 2025 for the state to start parading of witnesses.

Yunua, currently serving a 14 year jail term at Maula Prison over wildlife crimes and money laundering, is facing two counts of corrupt practices with public officers and five counts of abuse of public office.

While on remand in 2019, Yunhua allegedly offered MK30 million but also promised to complete construction of a house for officer in charge of Maula Prison Aaron Ganyavu Kaunda as an inducement for the officer to engage the magistrate to give a lesser sentence in the initial case in 2019.

Later, in 2022 and 2023 while serving a jail term, the convict allegedly persuaded prison officials to go out of prison to buy farm inputs and other items but also go to his house at Area 9 in Lilongwe.

The Ant Corruption Bureau is accusing Lin of several charges including “corrupt practices with public officers” under section 24 (2) of the Corrupt Practices Act, Abuse of public office under section 25 B (2) of the same registration.

According to the charge sheet, Lin offered K30 million to Maula prison officer -in- Charge Aaron Ganyavu Kaunda to engage High Court Judge Violet Chipao for a reduced sentence .

Law and order, Malawi

Mangochi man Missi Bwanali jail for pouring wife hot water

Maravi Post Reporter

By Thandie Chadzandiyani

MANGOCHI-(MaraviPost)-A 30-year-old Missi Bwanali has been sentenced to 17-years in prison by Mangochi Senior Resident Magistrate Court for burning his wife with hot water after accusing her of delaying to serve him supper.

Mangochi Police Prosecution Officer Amos Mwase explained that on the evening of April 9, 2022 the convict who is a fisherman returned home while drunk and found the victim Nancy Bwanali, 32, about to cook supper.

He shouted at his wife accusing her of taking longer to prepare food which resulted into wrangles between the couple.

In the heat of the argument, the husband took a pot of hot water from the fire and poured it onto the face of the wife before fleeing.

Neighbors rushed her to Mangochi District Hospital where she was admitted after sustaining severe burns.

Appearing in court, Bwanali pleaded not guilty to the charge and the state paraded three witnesses who proved the case beyond reasonable doubt.

In mitigation, Bwanali asked for leniency saying that he was drunk when the offence was committed but prosecutor Mwase reminded the court that intoxication is not a defence.

Mwase added the convict has left a permanent disfigure on the wife hence prayed for a stiffer sentence.

Passing judgement, Senior Resident Magistrate Rodrick Michongwe concurred with the state hence the 17-year sentence to serve as a lesson to other would be offenders.

Bwanali hails from Michesi Village, Traditional Authority (T.A) Mponda in Mangochi

Law and order

Mangochi defiler jailed 21 years for impregnating stepdaughter

Maravi Post Reporter

By Chrissy Nkumba

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Mangochi Senior Resident Magistrate Court on February 16, 2022 convicted and sentenced Nicko Amos, 41, to 21 years imprisonment with hard labour for defiling and impregnating his 14-year-old stepdaughter, contrary to section 138 of the penal code.

The court through state prosecutor Ezekiel Kalunga heard that, on February 9, 2022 the victim’s mother noticed some changes on her daughter’s appearance which prompted her to quiz the victim.

The victim revealed to her mother that her stepfather on several times in November 2021 forced himself on her and threatened her not to report the matter.

The matter was reported at Katema Police Unit where the victim was issued with a referral letter to the hospital. The results from Katema Health Centre confirmed that the victim was 3 months pregnant.

Appearing in court, the accused pleaded guilty to the charge levelled against him.

In mitigation, Amos asked for the court’s leniency, saying that he is a breadwinner to his family and the family will suffer if he is sent to prison.

However, prosecutor Kalunga said the convict was to be handed a custodial sentence, justifying that the life of a girl child is at risk now because of his actions and that such cases are on the increase in the district.

The prosecutor added that as a parent, the convict was supposed to protect and not exploiting the young girl.

Passing judgement, Senior Resident Magistrate Rodrick Michongwe concurred with the state before slapping the accused with a 21-year jail term as a way of sending a strong message to other offenders.

Convict hails from Mitulo village, Traditional Authority (T.A) Chimwala in Mangochi.

Law and order, Malawi

Court discharges Malawi Police officers who were arrested for shooting 3 fishermen to death

Maneno Chimulala

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)—Two police officers, who were arrested weeks ago for allegedly killing three fishermen and injuring another two, have been discharged.

The two officers, namely Steven Pahuwa and Jack Lusewa, were arrested following a February 13 fracas when the patrol team from Kachulu Police Unit was trying to confiscate fishing gear from fishermen who were defying a fishing ban on Lake Chilwa.

In his ruling, Senior Resident Magistrate Rodrick Michongwe noted that evidence from six state witnesses indicated that the act was done in self-defence from rioting fishermen.

He said Section 30 of the Police Act warrants an officer to use a gun in the event that the officers are under attack.

He also highlighted that the police did not bring substantial evidence on the case.

The two, who were being remanded at Zomba Central Prison, have since been released.