Ministry of Justice spokeperson, Pilirani Masanjala, confirmed the development in an interview Thursday.
“He will arrive through Kamuzu International Airport (Kia) at 4:30 pm through Malawian Airlines,”
Masanjala said
He said the police are expected to caution Chanthunya on arrival on suspicion that he murdered his girlfriend, Zimbabwean Linda Gasa, in August 2010. Gasa’s body was found entombed underneath a concrete bathtub at the suspect’s family cottage in the lakeshore district of Mangochi on September 16 2010.
Chanthunya, who was located by Interpol in January 2012, will be cautioned before his prosecution as he ran away before police could do so.
“That needs to be done before the State can do anything substantial in the prosecution process,” he said.
Gasa’s close friend, Jessie Kachale, allegedly told the police that Chanthunya, who was married, attempted to force Gasa to abort a three-month pregnancy. They apparently went to the cottage to discuss the pregnancy issue.
Through North West High Court in Mafikeng, South Africa, Chanthunya challenged his extradition, arguing that he would face the death sentence in Malawi since the country has not yet abolished capital punishment.
Locally, Chanthunya’s lawyer argued for bail at the High Court sitting in Lilongwe but the court dismissed the application