Mutharikas explain payouts

The family of former president the late Bingu wa Mutharika has explained the huge money withdrawals from bank accounts following a court order for them to make a disclosure.

In a matter where government wants the High Court, Commercial Division in Lilongwe, to declare that Mutharika’s privateBineth Trust is a public trust, a statement by a fiscal police officer was filed; listing huge money withdrawals the family made after Bingu’s death.

The fiscal police officer, Felix Nayeja, explained that during the month of June 2013, funds were moved from all bank accounts into the Bineth Trust bank account at Standard Bank in Malawi.

Malawi Government, which is fighting to make Bineth Trust a public trust, raised eyebrows with the money movements.

In an affidavit filed by Bingu’s children and his brother Peter, the family explained how the funds were used.

Government, through an affidavit of Nayeja, questioned a K63 million withdrawal and payable to Wilen Botha on June 6 2013. It also questioned payments made to the same Botha of K667 775 on June 13 2012, K616 188.06 on July 3 2012 and K400 000 on September 4 2012.

Government questioned the over K10 million paid to Amonra Investments on May 13 2013, K6.5 million paid to Pastor Samuel Kayuni on May 13 2013, K4 million paid to Rossal Technologies in July 2012 and August 2013 and over K2.6 million paid to Shungu Nyoni on August 31 2012.

But the Mutharikas, in the disclosure statement, said the payments were in respect of purchase of farm inputs, salaries for farm managers, wages for farm and other workers, repairs of vehicles used for work of the trust and tuition for grand children of Binguand many other children who were being supported by him before his death.

The family also explained that other payments to be supported by vouchers, receipts or other documents were for security services at the properties owned or in which Bineth Trust had an interest or occupied by the trustees and monthly remuneration for each trustee.

The family said the K63 million and several other payments to Botha were salaries for the farm mangers based at Ndata, wages for other workers and farm inputs such as seed, fertiliser and irrigation equipment.

The Mutharikas said there were also payments made to the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) in respect of taxes and the Estate Duty Commissioners in respect of estate duty and to thevaluer appointed by the Estate Duty Commissioner and lawyers engaged by the valuer.