BWB fraud suspects denied bail again

The Blantyre Magistrate’s Court yesterday denied bail, for the second time, two Blantyre Water Board (BWB) employees who are suspected of defrauding K128 million through a parallel account.

Senior resident magistrate Viva Nyimba on Monday said the evidence submitted to the court by two witnesses out of the intended 16 that were paraded by the State during the last court hearing was strong enough and overwhelming such that it cannot be challenged.

Nyimba said despite the two suspects—Brian Makote and Foster Kapito—still being innocent until proven guilty, and weighing the arguments that were presented by both the State and defence lawyers, it would still not be ideal to grant them bail as there is a likelihood that they may evade trial.

However, Nyimba said in the interest of justice and fairness as well as speedy completion of the case, hearing will even proceed on weekends.

In an interview after the ruling, police prosecutor Christopher Katani said they were satisfied with the ruling as it was in their favour.

The duo are suspected to have opened a parallel welfare fund account at Nedbank where four cheques from the Malawi Police Service (MPS) and State Residences amounting to K150 million were deposited between July and August this year.

As the account was active, encashment and two funds transfers to Multi Electricals bank account held at FDH Bank were made. Multi Electrical bank account belonged to Obina Liwonde, an employee of BWB working as a construction clerk and a third suspect in the case. He is still at large. n