The Lilongwe Magistrates’ Court on Friday gave bail to three leaders of a youth NGO Eye for Development (EFD) who were arrested late last month on charges of inciting violence against DPP youths.

The three, Executive Director Edward Chileka, Howard Jimu and Awonenji Chimera had been on remand at Maula Prison since February 24 when they were arrested.

The police arrested them after they had addressed a press conference where they allegedly called for President Bingu wa Mutharika to withdraw words he uttered during the launch of the Youth Enterprise Development Fund that DPP youths would get first priority.

The NGO leaders allegedly planned to march demanding equal opportunity in the disbursement of the K3 billion loan and they were arrested a day later, but earlier reports indicated that they were arrested for allegedly running an unregistered NGO.

First Grade Magistrate Cecelia Onsewa issued bail to the three activists asking them to pay K5,000 cash, one non-cash surety and that they should report to Central Region Police headquarters every Wednesday.

“This case is adjourned to March 26 for hearing after which the prosecution must be ready,” Onsewa said.

Police prosecutor Christopher Katani had earlier asked the court for seven days to complete investigations saying there were many witnesses to interrogate since words were uttered at a public gathering.

“Investigations are still on-going and I don’t know when investigators will be through,” Katani said later.

Lawyer for the three activists Happy Thengolose had earlier argued that the prosecution did not know who their witnesses were and that is why they were asking for more time to continue investigations at the expense of his clients’ constitutional right to bail within 48 hours of arrest.

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Jenda (192.86.100.35) 2010-03-15 21:42:17 Is it a criminal offence to run an NGO without registering? Anyways, why has your paper choosen this flat reporting...kuopa boma eti? Poor Malawian journalism! Reply 0   0

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