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| National |
| DPP explains Kalisinje arrest |
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by
Pilirani Semu Banda, 12 November 2004
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09:23:00
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Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Ishmael Wadi said Thursday UDF Ward Councillor for Liwonde, Machinga Ibrahim Kalisinje has a case to answer together with his brother Sheikh Alhaj Kalisinje who is currently outside the country. Sheik Kalisinje is being hunted to face murder charges on suspicion that he caused the death of Sheikh Abdul Hamid Bugidad.
Ibrahim’s relatives said early this week the councillor was arrested in place of his brother who is still at large.
But Wadi said Ibrahim is one of the suspects in the murder case, following reports that he was spotted when Bugidad was being attacked in June 2001.
“In fact, there is a file for him,” said Wadi.
But Kalisinje’s relative, who did not want to be named, insisted that Ibrahim’s arrest is unfair and that he has not been charged.
“The DPP knows that Ibrahim was not involved in this matter. He’s such a quiet person who was even forced by chiefs to join politics,” said the relative.
Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) executive director Emiliana Tembo said her Commission followed up Ibrahim’s issue with the DPP after hearing reports that he was arrested as ransom for his brother.
“But the DPP says there is a case against him. We will be monitoring the situation closely to see what happens,” said Tembo.
Kalisinje joins UDF spokesman Humphrey Mvula, UDF MP for Machinga Likwenu Rodson Jangiya and two vendors who have been arrested over the past four weeks on the same suspicions.
The late Bugidad, the former leader of Sunni Muslims Supreme Council of Malawi died three years ago.
Bugidad was one of the authors of the Muslim letter that led to the arrest of 600 followers in Blantyre in May 2001 and also led a group of Muslims who were arrested at the gates of Sanjika Palace in Blantyre when they wanted to petition former president Bakili Muluzi over differences between Qadriya and its rival Sukut sects within the Muslim faith.
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