Top Malawi officials charged with treason

BLANTYRE, Malawi (AP) — Malawi’s courts on Wednesday charged 12 top government officials and former cabinet ministers with treason for an alleged coup plot last year following the sudden death of former Malawi president Bingu wa Mutharika last April.

The charges were confirmed by the Magistrates Court in the capital, Lilongwe, following the release of an official report into Mutharika’s death which alleged that the officials tried to prevent then Vice President Joyce Banda from becoming president.