Wrong woman arrested in missing private parts case

The High Court in Blantyre has released a woman who was arrested together with her child during the mob violence that erupted in Chikwawa District two months ago following false allegations surrounding the alleged disappearance of private parts.

The woman’s lawyer, Vitumbiko Phiri, said High Court Judge Etness Chanza ordered her release after the State admitted that the wrong person had been arrested.

Phiri said they are considering whether to pursue legal action seeking compensation for the woman, who spent two months in Chichiri Prison with her young child after being wrongly arrested.

Meanwhile, Malawi Human Rights Commission Chairperson Chikondi Chijozi has urged police to conduct thorough investigations before making arrests, saying the incident amounted to a serious violation of the rights of both the woman and her child, who was reportedly unclothed at the time of the arrest.

The development comes after police earlier reported that, out of the 98 people arrested in connection with the violence, 27 were charged with murder, 25 with spreading false information, six were turned into State witnesses, four were charged with inciting violence, while 36 were found to have no case to answer.