State objects Mphwiyo bail, others released
Former Ministry of Finance budget director Paul Mphwiyo is set to remain in custody much longer following the State’s objection to his bail application on Wednesday.
Mphwiyo was arrested on Saturday alongside three others—Auzius Kazombo Mwale, Clemence Mmadzi and Roosevelt Ndovi—and are jointly being accused of defrauding government of about K2.4 billion ($4,180,470).
On Wednesday, the High Court in Lilongwe heard the bail application with 18 suspects all charged with defrauding government of K2.4 billion. The charge sheet has since been amended to 17 counts.
The suspects included a list of contractors whom convicted former assistant tourism officer Leonard Kalonga alleged he recruited as per Mphwiyo’s requests, while the other three were signatories at the accountant general’s office.
According to the charge sheet, former accountant general David Kandoje, who was also mentioned by Kalonga as being part of the team that defrauded government, signed a total of eight cheques. Kazombe Mwale signed 16 cheques while Mmadzi and Ndovi signed 24 cheques all worth K2.4 billion in 2013 alone.
In an interview yesterday, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Mary Kachale said the trio of Kazombo-Mwale, Mmadzi and Ndovi had been given bail on condition that they each pay K1.2 million ($2,090.24) as bail bond, while the others have been asked to make a formal application.
She said: “We have reservations on Mphwiyo and we would like him to still stay in custody. I cannot reveal the reasons, but the formal hearing will be on Thursday [today].”
During the interview, Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) deputy director general Reyneck Matemba added: “We need him [Mphwiyo] in custody at least two weeks before he can be given bail.”
Mphwiyo’s lawyer, Shadreck Mhango, also confirmed State’s objection.
According to the amended charge sheet, the 18 are being charged with conspiracy to defraud government, holding property belonging to government, theft, money laundering, issuing cheques fraudulently, abuse of public office and usage of proceeds of crime.
