(MISA/IFEX) – The High Court of Malawi has awarded a total of K48,000 (approximately US$457) in damages for “assault and trespass to goods” to “The Nation” newspaper senior reporter McDonald Chapalapata. In 2002, Chapalapata was assaulted by National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) Financial Controller Paul Chimenya. On 9 September 2003, Assistant Court Registrar Thomson Longwe […]
(MISA/IFEX) – The High Court of Malawi has awarded a total of K48,000 (approximately US$457) in damages for “assault and trespass to goods” to “The Nation” newspaper senior reporter McDonald Chapalapata. In 2002, Chapalapata was assaulted by National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) Financial Controller Paul Chimenya.
On 9 September 2003, Assistant Court Registrar Thomson Longwe ruled that Chapalapata should be compensated K28,000 (approx. US$267) for replacement of the mobile phone and dictaphone that Chimenya destroyed and K20,000 (approx. US$190) for assault and battery. Chapalapata’s lawyer, Ian Malera, entered a judgment in default after the defendant failed to respond to the court’s affidavit to appear in court.
In 2002, Chapalapata lodged a complaint with MISA-Malawi, also known as the National Media Institute of Southern Africa (NAMISA), after Chimenya assaulted him. MISA-Malawi/NAMISA sued Chimenya on the reporter’s behalf, through its media legal aid fund.
