Court lets go arrested football officials
The Senior Resident Magistrate Court in Blantyre has dismissed a case involving five football officials who were detained in February 2024 on suspicion of conspiring to manipulate a Southern Region Football Association Premier Division championship match between Ntopwa FC and Fomo FC.
Senior Resident Magistrate Akya Mwanyongo delivered the decision today, providing relief to the accused football officials, including Alfred Kaphamtengo and Fomo FC Director Mary Woodworth.
The respondents’ legal representative, Wester Kosamu, explained that the court’s decision was based on the prosecution’s failure to proceed with the case within an appropriate timeframe.
“The case has remained pending in court for 2 years and seven months, and pursuant to legal provisions, we filed a motion for discharge based on the police’s failure to advance the prosecution,” Kosamu stated.
Kosamu further noted that the case inflicted substantial harm to Fomo director Woodworth’s professional standing, resulting in the loss of a £20,000 sponsorship agreement that had not yet been transferred to Fomo FC due to the extensive media coverage surrounding the matter.
