NEWS | Courts | Cybercrime | By Watipaso Mzungu

Former State House aide and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) strategist Collins Magalasi, who is accused of hacking the mobile phones of President Peter Mutharika and senior government officials, has been denied bail after the court deemed him a flight risk.

Chief Resident Magistrate Austin Banda delivered the ruling on Thursday afternoon, agreeing with the State that Magalasi’s wealth and political connections could increase the risk of him fleeing the country if released pending trial.

Magalasi, a former presidential secretary and former chief executive officer of the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA), appeared shaken after the ruling and was escorted from the Lilongwe Magistrate’s Court by heavily armed police officers.

The court heard that Magalasi is at the centre of a national security investigation in which he is accused of buying a laptop and hiring an IT specialist to unlawfully access the personal mobile phones of Mutharika and senior government officials, including Cabinet ministers.

Cybercrime experts told the court they needed more time to analyse electronic devices seized during a raid on Magalasi’s residence. They warned that, if released on bail, he could use his resources to hire additional technology experts to interfere with or tamper with digital evidence.

But Magalasi’s lawyer, Andy Kaonga, opposed the State’s application to keep his client in custody, accusing prosecutors of bringing charges in stages to prolong his detention.

“The State is bringing charges piecemeal purely to keep my client locked up,” Kaonga told the court.

He also criticised the police operation at Magalasi’s residence, which involved about 35 armed officers, describing it as a “high-handed dragnet”.

Magalasi’s legal troubles deepened when Senior Resident Magistrate Shukran Kumbani read five additional charges against him.

Prosecutors allege that, between March 2024 and October 2025, Magalasi acted dishonestly with co-conspirators to defraud the Public Service Pension Trust Fund (PSPTF) in connection with the controversial acquisition of Amaryllis Hotel.

The State further alleges that Magalasi stole cash belonging to the public pension fund and laundered billions of kwacha, offences prosecutors say fall under the Financial Crimes Act.

Magalasi has not yet taken a plea to the additional charges.

He will remain in police custody pending his next court appearance as investigations continue.

The case has attracted significant public interest because of Magalasi’s former position as MERA chief executive and his influence within DPP politics.