A bizarre contradiction has emerged between police and former MERA boss Collins Magalasi, just a day after his arrest, over whether he has actually been formally charged in connection with the Amaryllis Hotel scandal.
Confusion deepens as Magalasi says he’s charged — but police insist he’s not
National Police spokesperson Gladys Chiwawula told Nyasatimes that Magalasi has NOT yet been charged, insisting officers are still in the process of investigating the matter.
Chiwawula also refused to reveal where Magalasi is currently being held, arguing that disclosing the location could “jeopardise investigations.”
But when a group of media officials managed to track down and meet Magalasi at Area 3 Police Station shortly afterwards, he gave a starkly different version of events.
“I have been formally charged this morning. You can get details of the charges from the police themselves,” Magalasi told reporters.
He added that police had informed him he would appear in court the following day.
Magalasi also revealed that Area 3 Police Station marks the third facility he has been held at since his arrest, having previously been moved through Lumbadzi and Kanengo.
The conflicting accounts leave a fundamental question over the case unanswered — has Magalasi genuinely been formally charged, as he insists, or does he remain under investigation, as police continue to maintain?
