ACB confirms leaked corruption dossier of Malawi Police is legitimate: ‘President Mutharika not yet suspect’
Graft busting body, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) says the leaked dossier on the deal between the Malawi Police Service and Pioneer Investment, which President Mutharika was named to have benefited from K145 million (about $200 000) deposited into the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) account to which he is a sole signatory is a genuine investigative report.
ACB director Reyneck Matemba told a news conference in Lilongwe on Friday that President Mutharika, though mentioned in the leaked dossier, is not yet a suspect of corruption, until investigations are concluded the bureau will know who should be prosecuted or not.
He said the dossier was legitimate but the leak could jeopardise the investigations as some of the witnesses, he said, have expressed concern and might not testify in fear of their lives.
“We are not only exposing the lives of our witnesses at risk but they are also demanding remedial measures. Their lives are in real danger,” said Matemba.
“If you read at that report there are names of people that came forward to the bureau on trust and in confidence–whistleblowers, informants. Some of them will be our witnesses. What most people are forgetting is that the leakage exposed those people.”
“Already three of them I will not mention names called us to say – you guys you have put our lives at risk, you have exposed us–we gave you this information on trust. If this is not remedied forget it we will not come forward to even testify” said Matemba.
He said the leakage would compromise the investigations.
Matemba also announced that the money for the lie detector experts who are to jet into the country to find out who leaked the document will not be state money.
He said donors would foot all the bill.
“There will be no government money in this exercise,” he said.
He said the prosecution of the suspects would start as soon as the ACB builds a strong case against the suspects but pointed out that so far there are no suspects.
Matemba said what was contained in the leaked document was just recommendations and not a directive or order.
“We all know the meaning of the word recommendation, it is not a directive, and it is not an order. This is what the investigators found…so they are recommending to prosecution and legal that can you take a look at this. So recommendations are recommendations, so it will be premature to say they are suspect or not. We have had cases were suspects have become witnesses–it depends on their role” Matemba explained.
Civil rights activist Timothy Mtambo said the information in the dossier is enough to prosecute the suspects.
Meanwhile, Economics Association of Malawi (Ecama) president Chikumbutso Kalilombe has cautioned government that if not well handled the scandal can result in donors, foreign investors and the investing public losing confidence in the country.
“We do not want history to repeat itself as was case with the 2013 public mismanagement of funds popularly known as Cashgate. We cannot afford to lose the little aid that we are getting right now.
“The concerns and suggestions raised by the various interest groups, therefore, need not be taken lightly. In fact, the matter should be handled expeditiously and transparently,” Kalilombe said in quotes reported by local press.
The Ecama president said his institution has always highlighted that corruption is one of the many evils holding back the country.
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Matemba why is your office still using the term suspect when that youy are also saying whistle blowers lives are under threat? WHO IS THREATENING THEM? THROUGH WHAT MEANS? Who is protecting them? As ACB do you have an account where, Mr Matemba is the only signatory? Is it sensible to believe that the account was DPP’s when in actual fact the account had one signatory? Jeafrey said she is not aware of this account and otherwise she knows all DPP accounts!! Is ACB doubting her remarks? Who made withdraws from this account? Who else do you think got a… Read more »
ACB is the most useless and incompetent law enforcement not only in Africa but the whole world. It is led by highly compromised director who can’t tell a fly from a mosquito; someone who’s unethical and with no backbone to stand against his masters. ACB is a disgrace to say the least. It’s investigators are as clueless of their responsibilities as the very boss who appointed them. In fact the whole ACB staff compliment should go to jail for bringing the whole Malawi justice into disrepute. One government changes, these people should be brought to account as to why they… Read more »
Let’s not deviate from the real issue here……..the leakers are the least of our problems., The President, The Police and The “ Guptas” (lMwenye) Karim are the issue and we would like to hear from them!
We all new that the dossier was valid and the issue should not be who leaked it but the contents of the dossier, the criminal acts by people mentioned in the dossier is what the issue is and must be addressed because Malawians have the right to be told.
It is a pity that Parliament shot down the motion that Hon. Chakhwantha brought on the floor to ensure the independence of Parliament. We will continue suffering from this malaise by persons in authority who continue to plunder the economy. We, as a nation must, however, keep the faith in what our forefathers fought for in their quest for independence. That war never only meant independence from the coloniser but also freeing ourself from exploitation from our own and not just from the other. To keep the faith strong, we must continue with the fight until the battle is own… Read more »
Koma anakakhala otsutsa boma bwezi atamangidwa kale kale on the same recommendations. Koma izi ndi zoopya akuti its just recommendation. Recommendation on corrupt activities. Yet you are saying one who was mentioned in the corrupt chain is not a suspect? My foot! The one who leaked the report should be given anti corruption medel of the highest order. He/she is a patriotic Malawian. See what is happening to cashgate findings yanthawi ya Munthalika paja on the word go ankati ndi audit query not cashgate kufuna kopusisa a Malawi, the oxic loans a MSB, Tsiku la 40 lakwana. Wakuba amahwidwa kenako… Read more »
What investigation when the conclusion says Botomani and Pioneer investment should be prosecuted? We don’t care whether you take them to court or not as long as we have known that APM is corrupt or a thief to precise. Nkhani yayikulu ndi Peter Muthalika. Why did they choose rations? Is it because they are disposable hence not traceable?
Mphonongo you are among the fools who are destroying this country. Corruption is killing this country
“He said donors would foot all the bill”
I cannot believe that foreign donors will foot the bill, so that whistle blowers can be identified and eliminated. It must be a certain political party or its supporters who will pay for the witch hunt.
Fellow Malawians, you will always live a disappointed life if you are guided by wishful thinking as a way how matters should be pursued. If that attitude continue, we shall always think things are not working for us. Look at what happened during PP regime, due to the same wishful thinking attitude we have all coiled our tails as if no mess happened influenced by leadership then. We want it should be APM in the wrong.