Mulanje senior resident magistrate Glory Mwatiwamba has adjourned to 19 August, 2024 a case in which police officers at Misanjo Police Unit are being accused of causing grievous harm, which led to the amputation of a 13-year-old boy’s hands.

In the court today, the State paraded two of its eight witnesses, including the victim.

In an interview, director of criminal litigation from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, Josephine Gwaza, said they are ready to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt.

“We are happy with the progress. If time was on our side today, we could have brought in third and fourth witnesses,” she said.

Defence lead counsel Chancy Gondwe applied for an adjournment, in order to attend to other clients in Blantyre.

Apart from causing grievous harm, the accused police officers Charles Mbewe and Stanley Chigaru are also answering common assault and neglect of official duty charges.

They allegedly held the boy in custody, with both his hands tied with an elastic rubber that led to some injuries on his hands.

The boy was arrested for allegedly stealing money from a local businessperson, Mabvuto Chikhwaza.

Initially, it was the right hand and two fingers of the left hand that were amputated, but now the whole left palm is also gone.