Malawi anti-corruption body won’t unfreeze ex-president’s bank accounts
The Anti-Corruption Bureau in Malawi has refused to release former president Peter Mutharika’s bank accounts, pending investigation related to cement scandal.
RUSTENBURG, November 5 (ANA) – The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ABC) in Malawi has rejected former president, Peter Mutharika’s request to remove restriction on his bank accounts, local media reported on Thursday.
Private owned radio station Zodiak Broadcasting reported that the director general of the anti-corruption body Reyneck Matemba, said they were still investigating Mutharika on the cement gate scandal and it may only consider him to make small withdrawals for general living expenses, which the law permits.
Mutharika, reportedly told the radio station exclusive that he was surviving because some well-wishers since his bank accounts were frozen over two months ago.
Mutharika’s tax number was allegedly used to import 400,000 bags of cement duty free between 2018 and 2019. The cement were imported from Zimbabwe and Zambia.
He had privilege to import items for personal use, duty free, in terms of the Presidents (Salaries and Benefits) Act.
Meanwhile daily newspaper Daily Times reports that Lilongwe-based businessman Gilliat Samudeni Bonongwe, has dragged Mutharika to the High Court’s Commercial Division for breach of contract and failure to honour payment.
In court papers Bonongwe, claims that, in 2018, Mutharika, through his bodyguard Norman Chisale, hired his company in several housing projects, from July 2020, his company has been involved in construction of the former president’s houses in Mangochi, Mapanga and Nyambadwe in Blantyre and in Lilongwe at a cost of K165 million (US$214.87).
He reportedly only paid K30 million and had an outstanding balance of K135 million.
Bonongwe is demanding the outstanding K135 million at an interest rate of three percent, and damages for breach of contract and legal costs.
The court gave Mutharika 28 days to respond to the summons.
Mutharika was president of Malawi from May 2014 to June 2020.
He lost the presidential election to Lazarus Chakwera in June, after the courts nullified the 2019 presidential election due to irregularities.
– African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Naomi Mackay
