The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has arrested acting director of science and technology in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology Patrick Mphadzula over alleged abuse of office.
According to ACB senior public relations officer Egrita Ndala, Mphadzula used a K300 000 government cheque to repay a personal loan of K70 000 and asked the lender to cash and give him the balance K230 000.
She said Mphadzula is likely to be charged with abuse of office contrary to Section 25B (1) of the Corrupt Practices Act and one count of money laundering contrary to Section 35(1)(a) of the Money Laundering, Proceeds of Serious Crime and Terrorist Financing Act.
“ACB received a complaint alleging that Mphadzula had abused his office in Lilongwe by using a government cheque to repay a personal loan. He was later arrested after an investigation,” said Ndala, adding that investigation on the matter is still continuing as there is suspicion that other such payments may have been made to other people.
The graft busting body in March this year arrested two councillors, chairperson and three members of village development committees (VDCs) on suspicion that they abused local development fund (LDF) in Malawi Social Action Fund 4 projects at Mulanje District Council.
This followed the arrest of Hendrix Laher, a Malawian, and Esili Kubwimana, a Rwandan, in connection with the dubious issuance of Malawian passports to people who were not eligible.
The arrest of the two brought to seven the number of people implicated in the passport scandal, including People’s Party (PP) interim leader Uladi Mussa.
