Malawi cleric denied bail
2010-08-22 10:59
Blantyre - A Malawi court on Saturday denied bail to a senior cleric charged with sedition, officials said.
Levi Nyondo of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) was arrested on Friday evening, after he allegedly endorsed vice-president Joyce Banda for the 2014 presidential election.
Nyodo is said to have hinted that his synod would back Banda for the election, not Peter Mutharika, the brother of President Bingu wa Mutharika.
Mutharika's second term will end in 2014.
A court clerk told AFP that magistrate Justus Kishindo rejected Nyondo's bail application, saying he would "tamper with evidence".
"There was a lot of tension outside court, some 300 people gathered around and chanted slogans," said the clerk.
Heavily armed riot police guarded the police station where the priest was held, as dozens of people staged a night of vigil singing and praying.
Nyondo will appear in court again on Monday.
- SAPA