Kasungu Senior Resident Magistrate Biar Joshua Kamanga has ordered the Police to release 9 suspects on Police bail.

This is after the court learned that some of the suspects had spent about 20 days in police holding cells against the 48 -hour-rule. The rule demands that suspects be tried within the same period after being brought into police custody.

The development has come as the Paralegal Advisory Service Institute (PASI) with funding from EU and UNDP is facilitating cell visits in some detention facilities in the district where the Magistrate is hearing cases and giving determination at the same spot; including at Kasungu Police Station where the nine have been granted some relief.

According to the Police, the suspects were brought to book on charges ranging from conduct likely to cause breach of peace, theft, unlawful wounding and concealing birth of a child; among others.