Tuesday, March 2, 2021
  • About Us
  • ImagiNATION
  • Adverts
  • Rate Card
  • Contact Us
The Nation Online
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Home Editors Pick

Civil servant convicted in K513m Cashgate

by Suzgo Khunga
20/10/2015
in Editors Pick, National News
2 min read
0
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare on LinkedinLinkedinShare via Email

 

The High Court in Lilongwe on Monday convicted civil servant James Bandula Chirwa on charges relating to the plunder of government funds at Capital Hill between April and September 2013 widely known as Cashgate.

RelatedHeadlines

Stakeholders commit to end child marriages in Machinga

First Deputy Speaker supports herbal farming

Karonga Hospital sewer gets fixed

Chirwa was convicted on his own plea of guilty to charges of theft and conspiracy to defraud the government of K513 million, but also money laundering which attracts a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment.

He was alleged to be the mastermind of the conspiracy involving several other contractors, among them Muzipasi Moyo of Ziuya Construction, Steven Mwenitete of Sky Civil Engineering and Denis Mhango of Clive Engineering.

Convicted: Chirwa leaving court after pleading guilty yesterday
Convicted: Chirwa leaving court after pleading guilty yesterday

However, Moyo, Mwenitete and Mhango have pleaded not guilty to charges of lending a certificate for personation contrary to Section 392 of the Penal Code and money laundering.

Chirwa confirmed to the court that he was in Lilongwe between April and September 2013 when he conspired with his fellow accused persons to defraud the government of Malawi on cheques payable to the companies as bogus suppliers of goods and services to the government.

When presiding judge Ivy Kamanga asked if he presented the money to the companies on the pretext that goods were supplied to the government, Chirwa responded in the affirmative.

“Were any services carried out or goods supplied when the money was paid to the businesses belonging to the accused persons?” Kamanga asked, to which Chirwa responded no.

He remained unmoved and unemotional throughout the judge’s questioning, but was requested several times to raise his voice when taking his plea so that the judge could record accurately.

Chirwa also pleaded guilty to the charge of theft, confirming that he indeed fraudulently converted to his own and use of other accused persons K513 million from the government.

To his own company, Chirwa transferred K131 million, to Mwenitete’s Sky Civil Engineering, he paid out three cheques totalling K61.2 million and to Clive Engineering Chirwa paid out three cheques totalling K123 million.

He also pleaded guilty to facilitating theft of K34 million paid out to Mike Mbwana of MIC Civil Engineering, K56 million drawn on four cheques to Philbert Mkandawire of Mahembe Civil Engineering, K39 million to Mweni Civil Engineering of Albert Mwenibabo, K30 million to Steward Nkhata of Stewarts Construction and K36.4 million to Yohane Kaweche of Mundikhumbengi Building Construction.

On the count of money laundering, Chirwa pleaded guilty to money laundering K131 million on three cheques while the remaining amount was shared between Mwenitete, Mbwana, Mkandawire, Mwenibabo, Nkhata and Kaweche.

 

Tags: James Bandula ChirwaSteven Mwenitete
Previous Post

Morgan Heritage coming to Malawi

Next Post

Mist over chief secretary’s job

Related Posts

A cross section o | The Nation Online
National News

Stakeholders commit to end child marriages in Machinga

March 2, 2021
Kazombo | The Nation Online
National News

First Deputy Speaker supports herbal farming

March 2, 2021
Karonga Hospital | The Nation Online
National News

Karonga Hospital sewer gets fixed

March 2, 2021
Next Post
Referred matter to Ministry of Lands: Mkondiwa

Mist over chief secretary’s job

Opinions and Columns

My Turn

Tackling global slowdowns

March 1, 2021
People’s Tribunal

Burglary at the hill

February 28, 2021
Search Within

Perseverance landed, is alive and well

February 28, 2021
Emily Mkamanga

Tasting your own salt in politics

February 28, 2021

Trending Stories

  • Olela: We are excited

    K5bn Sunbird Waterfront hotel opens May

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Inside Chisale’s seized property

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Exclusive: RBM’s Mzuzu branch payment mess exposed

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Lhomwe chiefs divided on paramount chief

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Experts fault IFMIS roll-out delays

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Values
  • Our Philosophy
  • Editorial policy
  • Advertising Policy
  • Code of Conduct
  • Plagiarism disclaimer
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use

© 2021 Nation Publications Limited. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation

© 2020 Nation Publications Limited. All Rights Reserved.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.