A 20-year-old Form 3 student who spent about a month behind bars over a mobile phone theft allegation has finally walked out of prison
Esther Hassan, has been granted bail after spending about a month in custody at Kachere Women’s Prison in Lilongwe over allegations of stealing a mobile phone.
First Grade Magistrate Chinkhumba granted Hassan bail following a court hearing, allowing her to await the continuation of her case outside custody.
The court ordered Hassan to pay K150,000 in cash bail and provide one surety on a non-cash bond of K150,000. She must also report to Lingadzi Police Station every fortnight on Fridays.
Her release follows an intervention by UbuntLAW Practice, which offered to represent her free of charge after Tiyeni Malawians reported on her continued detention.
Harry Gift Chiwoza, a legal intern at UbuntLAW Practice, confirmed the development to Tiyeni Malawians. The firm is led by Managing Partner Counsel Chrispine Mndala and Counsel Blessings Nkhunda.
Hassan’s case came to public attention after a parliamentary committee on women visited Kachere Women’s Prison and heard concerns from inmates about delays in the administration of justice.
