Lilongwe Chief Resident Magistrate Patrick Chirwa has today denied bail to Stuart Kalungama who is being accused of defiling his 9 year old step daughter.
Kalungama who pleaded not guilty to the charge had requested for a bail through his lawyer Edward Chagalamuka and this did not please the State that prayed to the Court not to grant him bail arguing that if Kalungama is given bail he could interfere with witnesses and can also easily influence the minor since he is the step-father to the victim.
The State also argued that the accused person can easily be harmed by angry people if released on bail since he is being wanted by many people.
Further the State feared that the accused can abscond bail conditions since he has connections with officers working in country’s borders for he is a business man.
Magistrate Chirwa then agreed with the state saying the accused person lives in the same house with the victim, therefore it would be dangerous to grant him bail.
The case has since been adjourned to 15th March for hearing.
