LAB lawyers on the bench
A Camp Court session held at Maula Prison has resulted in the release of three individuals, with two having their sentences reduced and one granted bail. The proceedings were presided over by High Court Judge Justice Mzonde Mvula, and the individuals were represented by the Legal Aid Bureau.
Among those released was Maria Banda, who had been sentenced in February 2025 to two years in prison for entering a protected area without a permit, conveying weapons into the area, and disturbing wildlife. During the sentence commutation, Banda explained that financial hardships had driven her to enter Kasungu National Park and expressed remorse for her actions. She assured the Court that she had learned her lesson and will avoid protected areas in the future.
The Legal Aid Bureau pleaded for a reduction of her sentence on the grounds that Banda had pleaded guilty, was a first-time offender, and had shown remorse. The State supported the plea, acknowledging that Banda did not waste the Court’s time during her trial and had learned her lesson during her time at Kachere Prison. While the seriousness of the offence was recognized, the Court ruled that the time already served was sufficient and Banda was released.
The Court also heard the case of Idnas Mbiri, who sought a reduction of her six-year sentence for acts intended to cause grievous harm. The Bureau argued that the sentence was excessive and noted that Mbiri had shown remorse and had made personal growth during her time in prison. Mbiri explained to the Court that the incident involved her niece and was driven by anger, which she now knows how to manage without violence.
The State supported the application for sentence reduction, stating that the 25-year-old could be a productive member of her community if released. Justice Mvula accepted the submissions and ruled that Mbiri’s time already served was sufficient. He also encouraged her to reconcile with her sister, who might still harbor anger over the incident.
In a separate matter, the Court granted bail to 26-year-old Mary Moffat Banda, who had spent nine months on remand at Kachere Prison following her arrest in connection with the death of her husband in 2024. Her bail was granted on the condition of a K40,000 cash bond, two blood-related sureties with valid national IDs and a non-cash bond of K500,000. She was further instructed not to interfere with State witnesses and to report to Kasungu Police every two weeks.
The Camp Court is expected to reconvene at Maula Prison in two weeks to handle 16 additional cases. The Legal Aid Bureau was represented by Senior Legal Aid Advocates Kisa Namagonya, Ruth Harawa, Chanju Kondowe, and Assistant Legal Aid Officer Pemphero Kapira.
The Camp Courts were also a rolling guide for visiting High Court Judges from Zambia, who intend to roll out the same in their jurisdiction. The judges through their head of delegation, Justice Charles Zulu, hailed the work of the Legal Aid Bureau as “excellent” and encouraged the continued collaborative effort in ensuring access to justice for all in various prisons of Malawi.
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