adminThe court ruled each of the accused must pay a cash bond of around US$625, surrender travel documents and report to police every fortnight.
The men initially appeared at Lilongwe Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday amid tight security following rioting over their arrest.
Their lead defence lawyer Kalekeni Kaphale had said the case would be transferred to the High Court for bail hearing as the Magistrate’s Court had no jurisdiction over treason cases.
Among those arrested is the late president Bingu wa Mutharika’s brother, Peter, a former foreign minister whom the deceased had groomed to succeed him. Goodall Gondwe, current economic planning minister is the only member of President Banda’s cabinet arrested.
They are accused of trying to prevent then vice president Banda from assuming power after the death of president Bingu wa Mutharika on April 5 last year.
Gondwe, Mutharika and Bright Msaka, the chief secretary to the government face additional charges of inciting mutiny, conspiracy to commit a felony and giving false evidence to a commission of inquiry into the death of the late president Bingu wa Mutharika.
“Justice has prevailed,” Kaphale told reporters.
Witnesses outside the court said jubilant supporters waved tree branches and burst into anti-government songs on hearing the news. Last week an inquest ruled that former president Mutharika died of a heart attack on the way to hospital, but his body was flown to South Africa as would-be successors denied his death in a bid to buy time. – AFP/Sapa.
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