Lilongwe Chief Resident Magistrate Patrick Chirwa charged six counts to the former Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) Director-General (DG) Aubrey Sumbuleta, following Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) investigations into alleged reports of sexual harassment.

The charge sheet shows that the counts border on indecent assault, abuse of office. According to MHRC Gender and Women’s Rights Committee Chairperson Stella Twea 10 witnesses, including former and current female employees, as well as two former MBC board chairpersons, testified before the commission, regarding the allegations.

Meanwhile, the State made an application to have his case committed to the High Court. “The court is satisfied with the application for committal by the State. The State has produced a certificate issued by the Director of Public Prosecutions [DPP]. The matter is, therefore, moved to the High Court to be handled by a judge,” said Chirwa. 

In other news, Chirwa refused to grant bail to six people suspected to have had a hand in misappropriating part of the K6.2 billion set aside for fighting the Covid pandemic.