US expert says cashgate report not doctored: Baker Tilly dossier legit

An IT expert in United States says there’s no doubt about the authenticity of the Cashgate report containing names of individuals and companies allegedly involved in the plunder of government resources at Capital Hill.

Stephen Kamphasa and  Baker Tiilly's Mack-Sullivan: Report containing names in
Stephen Kamphasa and Baker Tiilly’s Mack-Sullivan: Report containing names in

Doubters claimed the report released by Malawi government last week had been altered but US based software expert James Knox-Davies in his examination of the document has dismissed claims of doctoring  flat-out wrong.

But the expert  differed with Malawi Justice Minister Samuel Tembenu“ staggering display of technical ineptitude”claiming that the report couldn’t be doctored because, “it was received in PDF format and remains so.”

Said the expert: “Needless to say, PDF files can be edited. Also, you can find out if they’ve been edited by looking at the metadata on the files, which actually lets us dust for digital prints of editors of the files. (You may remember the same being done with a Iraq security dossier to the chagrin of Tony Blair.) Furthermore, some of the data was also released as an XLS (i.e., a spreadsheet), which gives us some more information about the history of the reports.”

Knox-Davies states that  there’s no evidence of the Malawi government interfering with the report.

“But there’s a third version of the report. These are the files that were released October 30th, not an earlier version of the PDF that — as best as I can guess, anyway — leaked between February 21st and 23rd of this year. (This one differs that in the October 30th PDF, specific people are identified as likely being involved in Cashgate, where the earlier version simply makes policy prescriptions to avoid large scale embezzlement in the future),” he notes.

Meanwhile, Auditor General Stephenson Kamphasa has also attested to the authenticity of the Cashgate report.

“This report is genuine. It is authentic,” said Kamphasa.

Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC)chairman Alekeni Menyani MP, has since expressed concerns about the unconstitutional way the report has been released given that the committee is mandated by law to receive [audit] reports.

British audit firm Baker Tilly conducted the forensic audit on behalf of the National Audit Office (NAO) funded by Department for International Development (DfID) of the United Kingdom government.

The report into the 24 billion kwacha ($48 million) of missing funds, handed to the government on Sept. 25, shows that amounts were paid for goods and services that were allegedly never delivered. The document covers April 1, 2013, to Sept. 30, 2013, and details instances of inflated procurement prices and overpayments.

But contrary to ‘court of public opinion’ former president Joyce Banda and former vice president Khumbo Kachali names are not there.

According to the report people including former commander of the Malawi Defence Forces, General Henry Odillo, his deputy, Clement Kafuwa, were allegedly involved in some of the deals.

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Bua Shire Lake Nyasa
Bua Shire Lake Nyasa
9 years ago

Let’s hope Lutepo will spill the beans.Don’t think u will spared

LIVESTOCK MAN
LIVESTOCK MAN
9 years ago

Whether, the report was doctored or not it is immaterial. The fact of the matter is we have looters, cashgaters and corrupt breed or ethinic group of humanity amidist us in Malawi. This breed of human beings will continue wreckling this country. These are the masterminders of dire poverty in Malawi. What is important is to get rid of this breed of people that has left our country poor for 50 years. The previous castgate judgement were not only out of order but a mockery to the jucidicial system and justice to the impoverished Malawians who can now not access… Read more »

Brixton
Brixton
9 years ago

Live with them and u ll know how cunning and corrupt these pple are. I do not trust these pple after living with them. As long as u show them u have money thats it. These pple they know how to cone.They are rogue traders. The world of internet anybody can be an audit for Africa. We torture ourselves with these pple coz of laziness, greediness. Poor Africa. Poor Malawi. Someone is laughing all the way to the bank for something we could have done it ourselves.

Paddy
Paddy
9 years ago

U R RIGHT!

Harawa
Harawa
9 years ago

They have to be charged 15yrs and above

Jimmy
9 years ago

kudya ntedza kumakoma ngati ntedzawo ukadalipo loool

jeremia
9 years ago

who is more wiser and knowledgerable between a white man and a blackman.i am in support of baker tilly s repory

Paddy
Paddy
9 years ago
Reply to  jeremia

mfiti

Zilipoi
Zilipoi
9 years ago

When asked about what they may have benefited they deny saying ‘Where did I sign’ ?

ozitsata
9 years ago

u expect us to listen to him jst coz he is from uk, he’s the one that has been doctored

Mpatamanga
Mpatamanga
9 years ago

Sorry,’Internal Procurement Units’ should have read Internal Procurement Committees’

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