A CHIRADZULU cop, who is accused of assaulting his wife, has asked her to withdraw the case.

Constable Clement Banda, who is remanded in custody at Chichiri Prison awaiting trial of his case in which his answering a charge of assault occasioning bodily harm contrary to Section 254 of the Penal Code, has written his wife, Pellagia Kanyambita,

In a letter written in Chichewa and dated January 2013, which The Sunday Timeshas seen, Banda tells Pellagia that if she continues with the case, the future of their nine-month-old child, Young, will be in jeopardy.

But Pellagia, who has can partially regained her sight has vowed to press on with the case.

Speaking in an interview after undergoing medical checkup at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital's Lions Eye Hospital early this week, Pellagia said she does not see the need to drop the case.

The letter reads in part: "Mayi a Young...nkhani ndi ya inu ndi ine, ndipo ndi ya banja. Komanso mudziwe zoti pali mwana yemwe adzafuna sukulu fees, ndipo chidziwikireni chithandizo chake adzayang'ana ine. Tsono muganize bwino. Mkhothi ndinalowa pa 24-01-13, ndipo ndidzalowanso pa 7-02-13. Nkhani ndiyoti inu mudzaperekere umboni. Chonde ngati mwalimba mtima kuti ine ndimangidwe zikomo kwambiri. (The mother of Young... The issue is between you and me, and is a family issue. You must also realise that we have a child who will need school fees from me, so think wisely. I appeared in court on January 24, and will appear again on February 7.

The issue is that you should testify. But if you are bent at getting me convicted, thank you very much).

"Koma sindikuona chomwe chingakulimbitseni mtima pa nkhani Ine ndi ine ndinapangitsa marriage certificate. Chonde ngati mwatsimikiza kuika mwana pamavuto oti atsavutike ine nditamangidwa. Ngati mukufuna kudziwa choti muchite muwapeze Ayazini kapena wapolisi wina aliyense pa boma. Anthu amene akukoka nkhani sadzachitapo kanthu pa chithandizo cha mwana. Ngati simukundifuna ndi bwino kuthetsa banja osati ndimangidwe. Chomwe muganize bwino pa nkhani imene" (But I don't see the reason why you should be hard-heartened. I am the one who facilitated that we get our marriage certificate. If you really want to let our child suffer when I am convicted.

If you want to know what to do, find Yazini or any Chiradzulu police officer. Those who are fanning the issue will not take care of the child. If you don't want me just divorce me, other than getting me convicted.Please think wisely).

Banda says living conditions at Chichiri Prison were harsh, adding that inmates use the same buckets to relieve themselves and bath, and asks for mercy from the wife.

Pellagia told The Sunday Times: "In the first place, let me thank God that I am able to see again, though I am still having some problems because I can only see well in darkness. When I get out of doors, I cannot see far, and tears just roll down because I am still not accustomed to sunlight."

"Talking about the letter, I don't know what he means. Suppose I died, would he have apologised? The pain I went through was akin to being ambushed by thugs)." She was accompanied to the hospital by her mother and grandmother Ethel Mtengo.