July 2001 World Headlines

Monday, July 16, 2001 - Web posted at 10:13:53 GMT

Three charged with treason over failed coup in Malawi

BLANTYRE - Malawi's top prosecutor has filed treason charges against three men accused of plotting a military coup.

Sudi Adaki Sulaimana and two as-yet-unnamed soldiers were charged on Thursday after being found in possession of illegal military gear and coup plans, said Fahad Assani, Malawi's Director of Public Prosecution."

"The treason trial against the three should start in the High Court soon," he said.

Treason is punishable by death in Malawi.

The case is the first of its kind since Malawi became a democracy in 1994.

Sulaimana and the two soldiers were arrested March 24 in possession of military uniforms.

Investigators said they had plotted to simultaneously take over the state-run Malawi Broadcasting Corporation and Television Malawi, and Sulaimana then planned to broadcast a statement justifying the coup.

The group then intended to occupy the presidential palace in downtown Blantyre.

The three have been kept at a secret location since their arrest.

Police spokesman Oliver Soko denied allegations they had been tortured into making a confession.

Sulaimana was arrested in 1993, after being connected to a coup attempt against Malawi's late dictator, Hastings Kamuzu Banda.

He has also been linked to a number of violent crimes, including armed robbery which resulted into the death of a police officer, and was out on bail when he was arrested March 24.

- Nampa-Sapa-AP

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