Gwanda Chakuamba freed by Malawi court

September 17, 2005 

A court has freed prominent Malawian politician Gwanda Chakuamba on bail after Chakuamba denied ridiculing Malawi president Bingu wa Mutharika at a political rally. Ridiculing the head of state is a crime in Malawi, with a potential penalty ranging from a $20 fine to three years in prison. 
Prosecutor Mcleod Mlonda objected to the ruling, stating that he was worried that as Chakuamba was an influential figure, he would use his freedom to tamper with the evidence. Magistrate David Kadwa disagreed though, stating that he found it unlikely that Chakuamba would be able to interfere with the evidence, as there had been hundreds of witnesses present when the alleged comments were made. For his part, Chakuamba has denied the charges. 
Chakuamba was ejected from Malawi's cabinet for allegedly buying a limousine with government funds last week, amid rumours of an internal power struggle. Prosecutors accuse him of labelling the President a "drunkard and a brute" .
Gwanda Chakuamba freed by Malawi court September 17 , 2005 A court has freed prominent Malawian politician Gwanda Chakuamba on bail after Chakuamba denied ridiculing Malawi president Bingu wa Mutharika at a political rally . Ridiculing the head of state is a crime in Malawi , with a potential penalty ranging from a $ 20 fine to three years in prison . Prosecutor Mcleod Mlonda objected to the ruling , stating that he was worried that as Chakuamba was an influential figure , he would use his freedom to tamper with the evidence . Magistrate David Kadwa disagreed though , stating that he found it unlikely that Chakuamba would be able to interfere with the evidence , as there had been hundreds of witnesses present when the alleged comments were made . For his part , Chakuamba has denied the charges . Chakuamba was ejected from Malawi 's cabinet for allegedly buying a limousine with government funds last week , amid rumours of an internal power struggle . Prosecutors accuse him of labelling the President a " drunkard and a brute " .
Gwanda Chakuamba
np0
Malawi court
np1
A court
np2
prominent Malawian politician Gwanda Chakuamba
np3
bail
np4
Chakuamba
np5
Malawi president Bingu wa Mutharika
np6
a political rally
np7
the head
np8
state
np9
a crime
np10
Malawi
np11
a potential penalty
np12
a $20 fine
np13
three years
np14
prison
np15
Prosecutor Mcleod Mlonda
np16
the ruling
np17
he
np18
Chakuamba
np19
an influential figure
np20
he
np21
his freedom
np22
the evidence
np23
Magistrate David Kadwa
np24
he
np25
Chakuamba
np26
the evidence
np27
hundreds
np28
witnesses
np29
the alleged comments
np30
his part
np31
Chakuamba
np32
the charges
np33
Chakuamba
np34
Malawi's cabinet
np35
a limousine
np36
government funds
np37
rumours
np38
an internal power struggle
np39
Prosecutors
np40
him
np41
the President
np42