MALAWI DOG ATTACK CASE AT HOSPITAL, DOG OWNER BAILED

Lilongwe Magistrate Court accepted  to sit at Kamuzu Central Hospital ward  where 73-year old Cephas Chimdima is receiving treatment  after he lost some facial parts after being attacked by five vicious dogs belonging to Zimbabwean national Dean Van Schalhwal.

The state prosecutors led by  Happy Mkandawire of police, Senior State Advocate Patuma Silungwe and George Soko asked the court to accept moving to the hospital as the principal witness –Chimdima – cannot be moved to any

place in the condition he is in.

Chief Resident Magistrate Chifundo Kachale who granted Van Schalhwal bail ruled that Chimdima should be heard from his hospital bed.

Magistrate Kachale also released the accused on bail because he was satisfied that he would not jump bail as  his property is  in Malawi. He ordered him to surrender his title deeds.

He further said the accused had demonstrated substantial willingness to take care of the victim and should, therefore, be given a chance to fulfill that promise.

Labour minister, Yunus Mussa told the state broadcaster MBC that Schalhwal had accepted to foot the medical bill for the plastic surgery of Chimdima which will be conducted in South Africa.

National coordinator for HRCC Mabvuto Bamusi told Capital Radio that the organisation was happy with the development stating that is what they had been advocating for since the attack.

Bamusi however asked the accused to compensate the victim.

Van Schalhwal has been ordered to surrender his travelling documents and reports to the police headquarters every Wednesday. He will also pay a cash bond of K500,000.00 with two sureties, one of which should be his father – in – law.

The state has also added another charge to the two counts Schalhwal is answering.

The new charge is acts intended to cause grievous harm contrary to section 235 of the penal code.
Nyasa Times