A Raiply Malawi Limited driver popularly known as “Tsibweni” has walked out of custody after spending 57 days behind bars over a crash that killed eight people in Dedza.
The High Court in Lilongwe granted him bail after the State dropped its pursuit of a manslaughter charge and said a road traffic offence was the appropriate charge.
Justice Bruno Kalemba also sent the case back to the subordinate court in Dedza, where Tsibweni will now face trial.
The decision follows a review of the case file by the State.
Director of Criminal Litigation Dzikondianthu Malunda told the court that the State had concluded that the matter should proceed as a road traffic offence rather than manslaughter.
Justice Kalemba had earlier questioned why the case had been escalated from a road traffic offence to manslaughter.
Tsibweni was arrested after the July 15 crash at Bembeke along the M1 in Dedza District.
He was driving a 30-tonne Howo truck loaded with timber from Chikangawa in Mzimba to Limbe in Blantyre when the truck collided with a Toyota Hiace minibus travelling in the opposite direction.
Eight people died in the collision while nine others sustained injuries.
Tsibweni reported the accident to Dedza Roadblock Police before he was arrested.
He was initially charged with a road traffic offence before the charge was later changed to manslaughter, resulting in the matter being committed to the High Court.
During the bail proceedings, the State did not oppose his release.
Justice Kalemba subsequently granted bail subject to conditions imposed by the court and referred the case back to Dedza.
Tsibweni had been held at Dedza Prison since his arrest and was not physically present in court during the bail hearing. He remained at the prison pending completion of the bail formalities.
He was represented by Counsel Mcford Sempulo and Counsel Henry Mvula, while the State was represented by Malunda.
The case will now continue before the subordinate court in Dedza as a road traffic matter.
