The Senior Resident Magistrate’s court in Lilongwe has reserved its ruling on a bail application by social media influencer and prominent businessperson Joshua Chisa Mbele.
Mbele, who appeared before Magistrate Wanangwa Nyirenda Thursday, has denied all the two charges of criminal libel contrary to Section 200 of the Penal Code and publication of offensive communication contrary to Section 87 of the Electronic Transactions and Cyber Security Act, 2016.
Making his application for bail, the accused’s lawyer Gilbert Khonyongwa asked the court to release Chisa Mbele on bail saying that he is a Malawian with residence in Salima District.
Without objecting to the bail application, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Levison Mangani asked the court to restrict freedom of expression and right to the press of the accused once released on bail throughout period of the trial.
Magistrate Nyirenda has since adjourned the matter to Friday morning for ruling on bail application.
The State alleged that the accused on or around 10th January 2022 through a posting published on his Facebook page unlawfully defamed and disturbed the peace of General Vincent Nundwe by implying that he corruptly benefitted money amounting to K4 billion from deal with Zuneth Sattar.
Mangani has since told Magistrate Nyirenda that the State has six witnesses who are expected to be paraded before the Court.
