ACB, MRA probe two Malawians of Asian origin

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB)  as well as Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) are investigating two Asian businessmen Mustak Chothia and Suleman Ismail on allegations of corruption and  “severe tax evasion”, Nyasa Times understands.

Mustag Mahomed: Arrested but  released b on bail without charge

The corruption probe has been opened after a whistle-blower had tipped the graft-busting body.

ACB director Reyneck Matemba has however refused to indicate whether the bureau is having a join investigations with MRA.

The ACB investigation is in relation to “wrongful enrichment” of Mustak Chothia and Suleman Ismail and that they have been using the name of First Lady Gertrude Mutharika for their business operations.

And part of the probe centres on land scandal after one suspect who has been arrested has implicated the two Asians.

Police on Monday arrested three senior officers from the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development on allegations that they were forging signatures and produce lease documents.

The law enforcers nabbed Flemings Chifombo, Diverson Mlozi, Rose Ajasi and an Indian Abubooker Istiaq.

The arrest of theses suspects has given a lee way to probe Chothia and Ismail.

Recently, Police arrested Mustag Mahomed, Chifuniro Simumbe and lawyer Umahu Mataka on the same syndicate while Alex Mawaya was still on the run.

The syndicate has been discovered after President Peter Mutharika had directed the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development to attend to a lot of complaints on double land allocations and issuing of illegal certificates and deeds, according to Principal Secretary in the ministry of land  Joseph Mwandidya.

While MRA sources indicate they are probing Pearl Adventures,  a company run by Chothia, which  has allegedly be evaded paying tax.

“We suspect Chothia has been defrauding government through Pearl Adventures,” tax expert privy to the investigations, told Nyasa Times.

The law enforcing agencies want to interrogate the two businesspersons as having benefited fraudulently billions of kwacha in collusion with the civil servants.

They are also investigating the property of the two  acquired using the proceeds of crime.

Investigators t could not be drawn into specifics   which are operational in nature for fear of jeopardising the investigations.

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Solly
Solly
4 years ago

Chotia is untouchable he told chifomboti don’t reveal anything I’ll look afta you,suleman has runaway to blantyre his on the run
Hiding at karamats house.

phiri
phiri
4 years ago

chothia boasting no one can touch him as hes wealthy ..he has backing from paki diplomat family who is connected to higher govt officials…this paki chaudry diplomat abusing his position n will face law…his pets chothia n ismail are feerless because of diplomat…they are selling land belinging to real hard working malawians…how long is this going to go on for??!. this is the tip of ice berg they have sold a lot of innocent peoples land..my land in 43 sold by these ruthless thieves..hurt them n make them pay!!! what goes up must come down..god bless the land of peace

phiri
phiri
4 years ago

chothia built house in area 9 from these proceeds..also building next to city mall kfc again from crime money n a cottage in salima also opposite kamuzu central hospital and biught new fortuner with land scam money…they are both holding lots of land behind bishop mckenzie…they known as kings of lands!!..confiscate all properties as they from crime proceeds..lock them up as they need to learn the law is blind not stupid…they are getting backing from a pakistani diplomat .who is involved too hes selling land in bt from greek club to mug n bean…this syndicate boasts of retiring because they… Read more »

Mswahili mambo
Mswahili mambo
4 years ago

These Asians will come out clean, their fellow Asians with similar cases wealth billions of Kwachas they are walking free in Malawi just because of our corrupt government.

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