Detained Malawi Congress Party (MCP) secretary general Richard Chimwendo Banda yesterday moved to Maula Prison in Lilongwe following his discharge from hospital pending judgement on his bail application. In an interview yesterday, the former Cabinet minister’s lawyer George Kadzipatike confirmed that the Dowa East legislator was discharged on doctors’ advice after spending about two weeks in hospital where he was admitted after falling ill while in police custody. He said Chimwendo Banda is not fully recovered and has been scheduled for further medical review.
Said Kadzipatike: “My client has been discharged, although he is not completely fit. The doctor has given him another date to report for treatment. He has now been remanded at Maula Prison as we wait for the court’s ruling on bail.” Chimwendo Banda was arrested on December 12 and charged with attempted murder.
High Court of Malawi Judge Mzonde Mvula on Christmas Eve heard his bail application and is yet to rule on the matter after hearing submissions from both the defence and the State. Earlier, the Lilongwe Chief Resident Magistrate’s Court ordered that Chimwendo Banda be remanded to prison, but receive hospital treatment following a defence application that police had allegedly ignored requests for medical attention. The State maintains that he is facing an attempted murder charge.
