Police confiscate $184,000 belonging to Pika Manondo: Malawi cash-gate
As investigations into the cash gate scandal progress, Malawi Police have confiscated US$ 184 000 (about K73.6 million) cash which was being kept by Pika Manondo, the prime suspect in the shooting of Paul Mphwiyo, the Budget Director.
National Police Deputy Spokesperson, Kelvin Maigwa, said Manondo was keeping the money in a self-deposit box at the First Merchant Bank (FMB), Lilongwe Branch.
He said the police got a tip off from the public and went to the bank on Tuesday where they confirmed that the self-deposit locker indeed belonged to the fugitive.
“We confirmed with the bank that the locker belonged to him but unfortunately such lockers have twin keys, one is kept by the customer while the bank keeps the other and for one key to open it is impossible,” he explained.
“So as police we had powers to break the locker and we found cash, in form of US dollars, amounting to slightly over 184 000. We are still investigating the issue and once our investigations reach an advanced stage we shall declare the connection between the two.”
Maigwa, however, indicated that it was an offence for one to possess such huge sums of money when his other means of getting resources are questionable.
“The money is currently being kept by us as part of our exhibits for whatever other cases that will come up in the course of our investigations,” he said.
Manondo, who has been placed on international police organisation Interpol’s wanted list, has said he intends to return to Malawi this week.
The Interpol wanted list, carried on its website, listed the suspect as Pika Pascal Manondo as being “wanted by the judicial authorities of Malawi for prosecution/to serve a sentence”.
The notice said the 38-year-old Manondo was wanted on charges of attempted murder.
