Journalists saw riot police, some armed with rubber batons, guns and teargas launchers and some in armoured trucks, converging on the High Court grounds and near the Chichiri Trade Fair Grounds as soon as Muluzi came out of the court.
Thousands of supporters had gathered at the court for the hearing but were prevented from coming near the court premises by the armed-to teeth security forces.
When Muluzi came out of his vehicle opposite Chichiri Trade Fair, riot police unleashed volleys of tear gas. First teargas canister was fired in front of his convoy and second in the air but Muluzi refused to bulge. Then police fired a teargas closer and a threatening shot near Muluzi's vehicle.
Supporters scampered all over and Muluzi left the for his BCA residence. This was a second incident within a week when police has carried orders to disperse Muluzi supporters since Inspector General Oliver Kubambe was fired for resisting such orders from President Bingu wa Mutharika.
On arrival at BCA residence, Muluzi urged his supporters to remain calm.
UDF supporters should remain calm. These are kicks of the dying horse but we are not going to do anything that will destroy Malawi," he said.
A number of supporters including others who had nothing to do with the crowds sustained cuts and bruises as they were running for dear life after the teargas.
Before the case, police also blocked one of Muluzi's lawyers, Kalekeni Kaphale from coming to court. The matter was addressed in court by lawyer Fahad Assani who told the judge that police behavior was deplorable.
Assani said the matter should be a public hearing and wondered why police were barring people from attending hearing and also blocking the lawyers.
Presiding judge said the court needed evidence on the matter and Kaphale who is one of the formidable lawyers in the country, was later allowed to attend the hearing and testified that he was one of the victims of police.
Meanwhile, Muluzi did not take any plea in case his defence team raised preliminary objections.
Muluzi's candidature is distressing the governing DPP and incumbent Mutharika who was handpicked by the former president and propelled him to power in 2004.
US State Department report on Human Rights, the first one released under President Barrack Obama administration, has condemned Malawi Police for failing to act impartially with regard to opposition political parties.
The use of excessive force to disperse demonstrators which resulted in several injuries [and death of Rev Chande Mhone, UDF governor for Nyika] was highlighted by the rights report.
Fact fileUS report for previous year:
On May 25, police arrested former president Bakili Muluzi for treason upon his return from the United Kingdom. Muluzi was expected to address supporters in Lilongwe the same day, but police fired guns to disperse the crowd at the rally location, injuring three persons .
Police stopped supporters from going to Muluzi’s residence in Limbe multiple times during the next week.
On May 31, police again stopped a Muluzi rally in the Biwi area of Lilongwe, firing teargas into the crowd to disburse supporters. Police also stopped a June 1 New Republican Party rally in the Ndirande area of Blantyre where Muluzi was expected to speak.
In late August police stopped several Muluzi "whistle-stop" tours in Lilongwe and warned that they would arrest anyone who attended the roadside rallies.
Police said the rallies led to traffic jams and blocked roads.
On September 3, police relented, saying the rallies could be held as long as they were a safe distance away from the road.
Nyasa Times
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