High Court Judge Annabel Mtalimanja has reserved her ruling to a later date on appeal for bail application by petitioners involving the alleged infamous Oman slavery deal.

The seven petitioners, who have been in police custody since their arrest in August this year, were arrested on suspicion of counts bordering on attempted trafficking in person to the Middle East country.

However, the Chief Resident Magistrate’s court reserved its bail ruling after the State objected that the suspects are likely to abscond bail if released.

But appearing before Judge Mtalimanja on Tuesday morning in Lilongwe, one of the lawyers representing the petitioners Gift Katundu said State’s objection lacks justification as it did not highlight how the suspects would invade trial once granted bail.

He addressed the judge: “court should set aside the ruling by the lower court on refusing to grant bail the petitioners because the State erred at law.”

On her part Senior State Advocate Luckia Kassim Jaffali has maintained that the petitioners should remain in police custody because of seriousness of the alleged offenses.

“The matter is at an advanced stage now, so the State is of the view that if the remaining accused persons will be granted bail right now there are all possibilities that they will abscond trial hearing.

“The charges that the accused persons are answering are very serious and their maximum sentences are very long and for any would take that opportunity if granted bail to maybe leave the country,” she said.

The accused persons in the matter before the Chief Resident Magistrate’s court are; Tinenenji Toppie Ebbex Nsaku, Goodson Makala, Aisha Ali, Chancy Namaheya, Douglas Banda, Killion Kathakamba, Happiness Nkhoma and Manase Robster Nyirenda.