The Senior Resident Magistrate Court in Lilongwe on Monday committed the murder case involving Information Minister Moses Kunkuyu’s personal assistant, Lester Maganga, to the High Court.
The case came before Senior Resident Magistrate Wanangwa Nyirenda for formal charging.
Many people, including relatives of the victim, Allan Wittika, were at the court.
Maganga walking towards the court room
The State has since asked the court to remand Maganga for 90 days to allow them to conclude investigations.
But lawyer for Maganga, Innocent Kubwalo, told the court that they will be applying for bail at the High Court.
Maganga is suspected to have killed Allan Witika, a former Sales Manager for Coca-Cola Beverages Company.
Nyirenda said the High Court will hear the case and other applications since the lower court had no such powers.
On Sunday, police arrested Maganga and charged him with murder contrary to Section 209 of the Penal Code.
Malawi Police Service has since said there is no information linking Minister of Information and Digitalisation,Moses Kunkuyu, to any cases it is investigating.
This comes after a clip in circulation on social media alleges that the recent arrest of Lester Maganga, a key suspect in the murder of Allan Witika, a Coca-Cola Beverages Company employee, revealed that the Minister was complicit in the case.
Maganga is personal assistant to the Minister.
“The Service is currently following up on those behind the malicious audio clips. When arrested, they will be charged and prosecuted accordingly as per the Electronic Transactions and Cyber-Security Act,” reads part of a statement from National Police Headquarters.
Wittika’s body was found dumped in the backseat of his car in Area 15 residential estate in Lilongwe on September 20 2023. He was laid to rest at Misesa Cemetery in Blantyre on September 22.
On Sunday, police arrested Maganga and charged him with murder contrary to Section 209 of the Penal Code.