On July 8, 2009 the Lilongwe Magistrates' Court granted bail to Gabriel Kamlomo, editor for Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS), a privately owned radio station. Kamlomo was arrested on 7 July on allegations of broadcasting false information as well as providing false information to the police. Delivering her ruling on the bail application Lilongwe Resident Magistrate, Vikoshi Ndovie said that the state had failed to prove that the accused would have interfere with investigations if he were to be granted bail. The state represented by Lilongwe Police Head of Prosecutions, Levison Mangani had objected to the granting of bail arguing that Kamlomo could interfere with investigations. He requested the magistrate to allow Kamlomo to be kept in custody for five days. The case will resume on 12 August, 2009.
As part of his bail conditions, the magistrate ordered Kamlomo to report to the police every fortnight (Fridays), to pay a bail bond of K10, 000 (US$72) cash and K20, 000 non-cash as surety.
Kamlomo’s arrest attracted a lot of attention from both the media fraternity and members of the public, who packed the court room in the afternoon of July 8.
Background
Kamlomo was arrested on 7 July 2009 on allegations of misleading a police officer and causing public alarm by broadcasting, what the police say is a ‘false’ murder case.
Kamlomo reported the story on July 3, 2009. MISA-Malawi is told that that the story surfaced in December 2008 and for several months the station has been trying to get the side of the police on the issue to no avail. Kamlomo however managed to interview the central region Police Public Relations Officer, John Namalenga who claimed that they had investigated the issue and concluded that it was a false story.
Post published in: Zimbabwe News