The high court in Lilongwe has ordered Malawi police to transfer the case of Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) leaders to Lilongwe, local media reported on Tuesday.

HRDC vice chairperson Gift Trapence and member Macdonald Sembereka were arrested in Lilongwe on Sunday night and transferred to Blantyre.

Malawi24 reported that the high court ordered acting inspector general of police to return Sembereka and Trapence to Lilongwe where their matter would be dealt with in court.

The court also ordered the police not to take HRDC chairperson Timothy Mtambo to Blantyre or anywhere outside Lilongwe when he hands himself to the police.

Mtambo who was reportedly hiding at the Norway embassy, handed himself to the police after a warrant of arrest was issued against him on Monday.

The three are accused of inciting people to occupy the state house in a push to force President Peter Mutharika to sign the electoral reforms bills that were passed in parliament last month.

The HRDC has been organising protests since the 2019 elections. Last month, the constitutional court nullified the 2019 polls and ordered the electoral commission to hold fresh elections.

The new elections are expected to be held in May.