Former Malawian presidential aide Collins Magalasi has been accused of helping a man identified as Lovemore to hack the phones of President Peter Mutharika and several senior government officials.
The allegation was made in court in the capital, Lilongwe, where Magalasi appeared before Chief Resident Magistrate Austin Banda.
Prosecutors allege that the offence took place between June and August this year and contravened Malawi’s Electronic Transactions and Cyber Security Act.
According to the charge read in court, the alleged targets included President Mutharika, Lands Minister Chimwemwe Chipungu, and Homeland Security Minister Peter Mukhito.
The minister’s deputy, Norman Chisale, as well as Inspector General of Police Richard Luhanga and his deputies Noel Kayira and Everista Chisale, were also named.
Magalasi was arrested on Monday, but police had not initially disclosed the charges against him.
His lawyer, Andy Kawonga, has applied for bail, arguing that the state was bringing charges against his client in stages in order to keep him in custody.
Kawonga told the court that Magalasi had been charged on Tuesday in connection with the Amaryllis Hotel deal, but that different charges had been brought against him on Wednesday.
He described this as an attempt to “bring charges piecemeal to keep him in custody” and said his client had a right to bail.
The court is expected to consider the bail application as proceedings continue.
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