Blantyre, March 6:The Blantyre magistrate court on Friday granted bail to four suspects arrested over illegal selling of ARVs within the city of Blantyre.
The case was brought before court through State Advocate prosecutors.
Police in Blantyre on Tuesday and Wednesday last week arrested the four men for being found in possession of 29 bottles of Antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) each containing 30 tablets suspected to have been stolen.
Two of the accused who are medical assistants at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital areDambudzo Huwa, 29, from Anderson Village, Traditional Authority Likoswe in Chiradzulu andCharles Gweta, 26, from Tomali Village, Traditional Authority Lundu in Blantyre who is a translator, while the other two Phillip Kambuzi, 23, from Kapazanji village, Traditional Authority Choseka in Lilongwe andPatrick M’bale, 35, from Mwandovi village, Traditional Authority Wasambo in Karonga are just accomplices.
State lawyer, Frank Mbeta confirmed to the Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Monday that the suspects have been given court bail.
“They were given bail on conditions that each one of them should produce K15, 000 cash and that above all they should also produce a non cash surety bond of K100, 000 each.
“They have been also ordered to report to the State Advocate Chamber every Friday,” said Mbeta.
Earlier, Blantyre Police spokesperson, Lameck Thembachako said on February 26, 2013, Police at Blantyre Station were tipped off that Charles Gweta was selling ARVs within Blantyre City.
“The suspect was arrested around 18:00hours the same day. Upon interrogation, he alleged that the first suspect, Dambudzo Huwa, gave him the ARVs for sale.
“The third suspect, Phillip Kambuzi, and the fourth suspect, Patrick M’bale, alleged that the second suspect, Charles Gweta, had asked them to find a market for the ARVs which they did. They were arrested together with the second suspect, Charles Gweta while the first suspect, Dambudzo Huwa, was arrested on February 27, 2013,” said Thembachako.
Meanwhile, the case will resume on 4th April, 2013 at the Blantyre Magistrate court.
