ACB arrests diplomat over K400m scam
Malawi’s corruption busting body the ACB on Saturday arrested a former principal accountant at the Accountant General’s office in Lilongwe in connection with the misappropriation of over K400 million (about $1.2m) in 2011.
The suspect, Emmanuel Yesaya Mazalale, is currently working at the Malawi embassy in Kuwait and was about to fly out of Malawi at the time of arrest, according to a statement from the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).
ACB spokesperson Egrita Ndala confirmed the arrest on Tuesday. She said the ACB had earlier arranged a meeting with the suspect to ask about the K400 million case.
Ndala said the arrest followed investigations the bureau instituted after receiving a complaint of alleged corrupt activities at the Accountant General’s office which involved the loss of the said amount of money.
She said Mazalale will, among others, be charged with offences of money laundering as per the Money Laundering, Proceeds of Serious Crime and Terrorist Financing Act.
Since the investigations into the matter started, the ACB has arrested, among others, Richard Kapinga, an accounts clerk at the Accountant General’s office who was allegedly found with K404 million (about $1.2m) in his personal bank account and assistant commissioner of police Elijah Kachikuwo, who was director of finance at Police Headquarters.
The two are currently out on bail.
