A senior Malawi Police Service commissioner, Stan Kaliza, has been forced into retirement after being found guilty of sexually exploiting 45 female officers, according to Nyasa Times. The Police Service Commission upheld the allegations following an internal investigation and disciplinary hearing. Human rights campaigners have criticized the decision, questioning why the former human resources head did not face formal prosecution, dismissal, or forfeiture of benefits instead of forced retirement.
In a separate case, Pakistani businessman Chaudhry Azhar Mahmood and his wife Neelam have temporarily avoided arrest in Blantyre after securing a last-minute stay order from the Limbe Magistrate's Court, Nyasa Times reports. The couple faces multiple allegations involving citizenship fraud, using fake diplomatic credentials to evade customs duties, and a suspected K1.4 billion financial scheme involving undelivered government contracts. The court will review the arrest warrants at a hearing scheduled for August 24.
Update: The High Court of Malawi has reserved its ruling on the bail application for Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives executive director Sylvester Namiwa, who remains in police custody on treason charges, according to Nation Online. Meanwhile, Nation Online also reports that the Lilongwe Senior Resident Magistrate Court granted bail to private practice lawyer George Jivason Kadzipatike on Thursday. Kadzipatike surrendered to authorities after the Malawi Revenue Authority and police searched his office earlier in the week.
Additionally, Rastafarian and Cannabis Regulatory Authority board member Ras David Chikomeni Chirwa returned to court this week to face charges of possessing cannabis sativa without a permit, according to the Malawi Freedom Network.