BLANTYRE--Journalist Justice Mponda has been freed on bail and charged with one count, his lawyer, Chancy Gondwe, has said.

Mponda, who was arrested Monday morning at his Chiwembe home  and driven to Lilongwe, the Malawi capital, for questioning, has been charged with publishing false information after using a fake presidential Facebook page of Pres Joyce Banda. At the hearing in Lilongwe, Mponda, who works for online publication Malawi Voice, pleaded not guilty but was given bail on conditions, which includes reporting to Blantyre police station every Monday and two surities of non-cash bond.

Gondwe said it was a small offense and his client could be fined if convicted.
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