Vuwa granted bail, lawyer says court cleared him to travel: Malawi treason suspect

Treason suspect and Nkhata Bay Central member of Parliament (MP) Symon Vuwa Kaunda has been granted bail after he was re-arrested by Malawi Police in Lilongwe for allegedly violating bail conditions set by High Court Judge Ivy Kamanga last Thursday.

Kaunda was re-arrested on Saturday night at Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) in Malawi’s capital, Lilongwe, as he was about to board a plane en route to Brussels, Belgium for the African, Caribbean Pacific (ACP)-European Union (EU) joint parliamentary assembly.

But was freed on Monday, his lawyer Chimwemwe Sikwese confirmed.

“Yes he [Vuwa Kaunda] has been releaded on bail,” confired Sikwese.

The lawyer said Vuwa Kaunda “had an order of court to travel.”

But National Polices spokesperson Rhoda Manjolo said the treason suspect did not notice Central Region Police Commissioner about his trip, saying that was breach of the bail conditions.

Among other bail conditions set by the judge,  Vuwa Kaunda and the other 10 suspects, arrested in the aftermath of a commission of inquiry report into the death of president Bingu wa Mutharika, must inform regional police commissioners in their respective regions of residence before leaving Malawi.

Kaunda was on  Malawi parliamentary delegation to Brussels for the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly which takes place twice a year.

A bout K1 280 000 (about $3 555) in allowances was already credited to Vuwa Kaunda’s bank account.

Answering treason charges together with Kaunda are politicians Peter Mutharika, DPP acting president, and former ministers Jean Kalilani, Goodall Gondwe, Patricia Kaliati and Henry Mussa as well as former deputy ministers Kondwani Nankhumwa and Nicholas Dausi.

Also accused are interdicted top civil servant Bright Msaka and his former deputy Necton Mhura.

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