Chief Justice reports to ACB attempt to bribe judges in Malawi election case

January 12, 2020 Wongani Chiuta - Nyasa Times 59 Comments

Chief Justice Andrew Nyirenda has asked Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to investigate alleged attempts to bribe five judges presiding over presidential elections petition case, the graft-busting body has confirmed.

Chief Justice Andrew Nyirenda has asked ACB to investigate alleged attempts to bribe five judges.

However, Nyasa Times understands that the bureau was alerted in November 2019 about the attempts to bribe the judges.

The Constitutional Court has until February to determine the case in which Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president Lazarus Chakwera and UTM Party’s Saulos Chilima are disputing the President Peter Mutharika re-election in May 2019 polls.

ACB director Reyneck Matemba confirmed that they are following leads to the matter.

“I can confirm that the Anti-Corruption Bureau received a written complaint from the Chief Justice on a matter related to the presidential elections case that is pending judgement in the Constitutional Court,” said Matemba.

He said the ACB cannot discloses any further details of the complaint but said the bureau is  pursuing it “as well as other written complaints that we also received from different  sources and interested stakeholders.”

It is yet to be established the real identity of the people involved in the bribe and the judges who were approached.

Malawians have taken up in various social media platforms expressing worry over the matter and wondering if the ACB  act on the reports.

In an interview with Nyasa Times, social and governance commentator Makhumbo Munthali said he expects the five judges to administer justice -whichever way it goes.

“But my only worry in view of the revelation of attempts to bribe judges is that it has the potential to undermine the public acceptance or respect of the Court verdict-regardless of how impartial it is.

“ In other words, immediately the identity of the person (or party) who did this is revealed the court of public opinion will come up with its verdict, and such a verdict of public opinion may be difficult to reverse in as far as acceptance or respect of the Court decision is concerned particularly when the  fice  judges (Con Court verdict) is contrary to that of the public,” said Munthali.

He continued: “ In short, looking at it from a public interest and promotion of rule of law perspective, whosoever attempted to do this has done more harm to this country.”

Munthali said to avoid speculation, it would however be important that the ACB reveals the identity of those who are alleged to have attempted to bribe the judges

Last week, the opposition stopped the European Union Election Observer Mission from presenting its final report. The opposition claimed the report would compromise the case.

In a statement, Chief Election Observer for the EU to Malawi Miroslav Poche said they were  disappointed that they were not able to present their final report on the elections.

He said the report is a technical document and it does not interfere with the current political situation in Malawi in light of the presidential election case.

The mission said it wiould present the report in February by which time judgement is expected to be out.

In a preliminary report released just after the election, the EU mission described the election as “transparent, well-managed and competitive.”

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59 replies on “Chief Justice reports to ACB attempt to bribe judges in Malawi election case”

  1. There are more questions than answers in the manner the matter has been handled.It is , however, not surprising as DPP is associated with this type of mafia.

  2. Ma judge asaoneke angelo pa nkhani za chisankho, they should reflect overall conduct of the judiciary, osatinamizapo apa!

  3. Tinene kuti achina Chilima nkhaniyi samayidziwa all along. Why were they quite. The moment the story comes out to the public within few minutes the names of suspects came out. I sense something fishy going on and if not careful we shall be fed with terribly propagandist schemes of either side. Shame

  4. Komano guys fans ya DPP ili ndi njila zambili zopangira Bribe i know kuti pali ma Judge awili ndma Cadet also nde tufunika kuchenjera ndi amenewo also ndalama ndi Satana wankulu palibe amayifuna atha kumapanga zonsezi ndicholinga chophimba zoti the five panels of the judges ngati kuti asazakhale mu mavuto akazatulusa zosatila guys fans ya DPP ndya usilu ndiyokuba kwambili tuyenera tikhale nawo tchelu kwambili and the most good thing is mlandu unali pa air and wina aliyese anaziwa pomwe unayendera because even the DPP witnesses anavomereza kuti kunali kubera and a MEC anavomerezaso and cndikuziwa kuti a Court akudikira chan.

  5. if corrupt ACB shall fail to act on this one HRDC and MHRC Will do it for us. Bravo! Nyirenda, Bravo! Dingiswayo Madise, Bravo! Ivy Kamanga Bravo Justice Mike Tembo, Big BRAVO! Justice Healy Potani. any injustice on this case will kill Malawians, first to die will be the one announcing the injustice judgement mind you.

  6. Papita masiku ambiri ACB chineneleni nkhaniyi, mmene imajijilikira oposition yathuyi ndi ma press conference ama propaganda, ikadakhala kuti sikukhudzidwa pano bwenzi tikumva kuti “Tikuipasa ACB masiku …… kuti auzema amalawi ndindani wapanga zimenezi”. Tikanamvanso kuti HRDC ipanga mademo awo abata aja oumiliza ACB kuti amange onse okhudzidwawo. Maganizo anga ndikuti ikadakhala kuti ndi boma panopa tikadamva kuti “APM should resign”. Mwina dossor ya ACB komanso kalata ya chidandaulo yochokera kwa Chief Justice pano itafika kale pa social media. Ndikuti phuma ilindi oposition yathuyi, chete ameneyu andidabwitsa kwambiri. Uyunso Munthu otchedwa Munthaliyu ndinzake wina uja waku Livingstonia komanso mai wa ku Mzuzu uja mukadamva ndemanga zao osati izi akutiphimba nazo mmasozi. Just thinking aloud.

  9. If, indeed, Mpinganjira is the one leading an attempt to bribe the judges the logical conclusion is that he is doing this on behalf of DPP/APM as it is inconceivable he would do so on behalf of MCP or UTM. With these revelations, my view is that the ConCourt should speed up it’s determination to save millions of taxpayers money.

    An attempt to bribe the judges is a confirmation there were irregularities during the May 21 elections and someone is feeling the heat

  12. You have money to bribe. Look at what is happening at Kamuzu Central Hospital.

    This Govt needs to go. We are tired of being led by corrupt thieves.

  13. From what we are hearing the complaint was lodged in November, before the wrapping up of the case. It will not make sense revealing the names after judgment and it makes more sense if the names had been revealed before wrapping up of the case. its fine if the names are revealed now (before judgment) as has happened:

  14. Now I confirm that Justice Nyirenda is one of good citizen in our Country. This guy has been fighting this from the begining.

  16. ACB is incompetent and wholly politicised. ACB itself is corrupt. Matter was reported to ACB in November 2019, to date the guilty have not been arrested and charged. This says it all. ACB was created to fight corruption but it has transformed itself into a tool of the incumbent President to investigate and harass the opposition. ACB has failed to investigate or to prosecute and must be abolished.

  17. ndili ku lilongwe anthu alusa moopsa moti akunena kuti mademo akubwerawa the target its FDH Bank FDH Take note please and if HRDC Will not organise mademo akuti adzayanbitsila dala chipwilikiti mu lilongwe

  18. Soon dziko likhala manja mwasilikali for a short time and Police and soldiers kukhala kulimbana ma civilians will be free and this conflict will not be too much

  19. here are some of the Names LYOD MHARA, BROWN MPINGANJIRA OWNER OF FDH TO MENTION A FEW AND THE MOVE ITS FROM FAR I KNOW EVERYTHING AND MA JUDGE NDIANTHU OCHENJERA CHOMWE AMAFUNA ITS EVIDENCE and they have covered everything and ma Customers plus ogwira ntchito ku FDH Bank yambani kuganiza bwinobwino Chifukwa apa mkuluyu ikatele yalakwa

    mpinga njira was promised to be the Reserve Bank Governor that’s why he has tried everything possible

    apa ndikukhulupilira kuti monga dziko tikuyenera kuteteza chuma chamnthu pokakamiza boma kuti lichotse mutharika pampando tikaziyanganila tisauka chifukwa anthuwa akudziwa kuti chabwino palibe letse join hands and fight

    ONE MALAWI ONE NATION

    1. Come on stop implicating people without evidence. Mpinganjira is employing former RBM governors and you insinuate that being RBM boss is an aspiration to him. Shut up please. The guy is way richer and better off than the governorship position would offer. The best Mpinganjira can become is President. I guess that’s why you have started implicating him to taint his image. My goodness me.

      1. What I don’t understand is how can a private bank in a third world country be richer than the reserve Bank bwhich regulates banking

      2. Can’t understand why you are laboring yourself protecting somebody! Are you employed by him too? What will you do if what Mbunyo says is proved truth? Shame on thieves……………. kulemela kwake kuti, si ndalama zathu zomwe milked from our taxes through many dubious ways? Ndiye tikanena chonchi muziti ndne wa sanje, fotsekiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!! Munya muona, ndipo ma toxins loans onse aja muwasanzaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa muona!

    2. Mmmmmmmmmmm! Kudzikwata ndi chala inu mbuli za wanthu!!! Komatu ndiye mwayesetsa ndipo mukuyesetsa kuti mupeze zifukwa koma n’goooooo! THIS IS A POLITICAL PROPAGANDA AT IT’S WORST.

  21. Izi zachidziwikile kuti dpp ikufunitsisa kukhalabe muboma kamba ka kuononga chuma misonkho yawathu 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥apa kwamunthu ali ndi mzimu wa umulungu ndibwino kukhudzumuka malaya asanathine kapena titi madzi asanafike mukhosi.Dpp mudziweni Mulungu ndinakuuzani zimenezi kalekale mumudziwe Mulungu ndalama si Mulungu muona kuti mutani munakula munatha mr tippex makani thooooo kaya 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

  22. You the judges just order MEC to release the real results of the May 2019 elections. These stories of attempted bribery, hiding or destroying the original tally sheets, etc is a clear testimony that one was robbed and that victim is none other than Dr. Chakwera. A fresh election decision will not appeal to Malawians especially if Mutharika is not penalised and worse still, he remains on the position while we await a fresh election. He will appoint a new set of commissioners , bribe them and bribe everyone involved. The outcome will be another rigged poll and we will be back with another cycle of petitions. Besides, we dont have the money and time to have a fresh election just to correct a blatant theft by DPP.

      2. Chingerezi pa Malawi ” Did MCP brought?” koma cadet. Mwinanso ndi bigman wa boma kapena FDH Bank kutereko kkkkkkkk

  23. It is easy to know which group did this. Check whether MBC is airing this interesting story. If they are airing it then the opposition camp did it, but if MBC is silent then you know these are the ruling party did this. MBC toe that line

  24. Nkhaniyi ndiyamu November, koma ikutuluka lero. My guess is the Chief Justice was expecting progress from Matemba, koma he has been toothless, which has prompted Justice Nyirenda to make the issue public.
    This will put more pressure on Matemba, otherwise, this issue was going to be forgotten by Matemba.

  25. Who has money in this country to bribe judges, and who can have easy access t the judges? You have guessed right.

  26. HEHEHEHDE zayambika why busy bribing innocent judges let them deliver the judgement in peace and harmony, matama onse aja ine ndinawatibula pa 21 may amalira kuti mia mia now busy sending pipo to bribe judges, Dzanja lalemba pa khoma Pharao iwe, just starts packing your bombasa and underwear time is over. When GOD SAYS NO, NO ONE CAN PUSH IT TO BE YES.

  28. Agalu kukonda ndalama awa. They think Malawi is still stupid. All that wealth gathered from plundered funds will be taken away. Alomwe osakaza inu.

  29. koma iyi nkhani iyi kaya tiona koma ngati sitipemphera ndi nkutsala kudya mmm kulibe zabwino kutsogoloku komaso ma jugdes athu tayesetsani kuthamangitsa nkhani coz kuchedwaku ndikomwetso kukubweretsa mavuto ambiri coz kukaikirana kwa chukuluka.

  30. Justice delayed is justice denied, it’s taking too long that’s why those who are desperate to maintain their status quo are engaging in bribery.
    Just look the delegates from EU mission was another staged group to frustrate the verdict the Court wanna give.

    Now here is another move of trying to bribe the 5 judges , there is more to come if judgement is being delayed like this. People are having sleepless night due to this case so come up with the verdict plz as soon as possible before the entire nation comes to stand still.

  32. This is what we have been saying that no one should bribe the 5 judges. Especially those from DPP it’s better to name them now and arrest them. These are the people needs to be arrested quickly. As citizens we believe that all these people who have been trying to bribe the judges are the same people who bribe Jane Ansah and her commissioners. Name them immediately. Why Malawians u like to hide peoplewho wants to keep destroying our country and democracy. The court should also name those who were found in the ceiling of the high court in Lilongwe during the hearing of the election case.If the chief justice has reported this to the dead ACB I doubt if they are going to investigate especially if the culprit is from the ruling party. Thanks that now we know that there are some people sitting on the bags of money ready to spend coz this is the only way know to get things done. They don’t believe in losing power. As citizens of the country we demand for the immediate arrest of perpetrators.Do not hide their names, these are the people who wants to destroy our only country. Release Kabwira now she was right on whatever she said, she saw this coming. Remember we are going to judge these 5 judges too. God bless Malawi. Keep it a land peace. Freedom is coming soon.

  33. I can sense Nkhodzo za Mbewa ku bowo kumeneku 🤣😆😆😜😅!! This malpractice will not benefit local Malawians and stupid behaviour is just adding up Nkwiyo omwe aMalawi tirinawo, kupanda kusamala kunukha Linya ndithu, and FDH Bank ofunika ione Khiyama basi. Off course ndalama ndizanu koma we want Justice to prevail.🔥🔥🔥♥️♥️💪💪

  35. If the Chief Justice has complained to ACB it means the complaint contained the name(s) of those who attempted to bribe. Is it that it is a half baked story or the ACB is hiding the truth. ACB is following leads to establish tge truth….. and the Chief Justice has complained about attempted bribe on the Concourt judges

  36. Be fast at repouting, soon you will have few leaders because your journalists are becoming corrupt. Now we expect names because we already know everything. Facebook is even more interactive and comments there are over 1000. You will soon fall.

  39. Zili bwino zili bwinooooooo. Aululike basi amenewo! 😂😂😂😂😂😂

  41. Hehehehehehehe. Wina alira wina alira. Mr. Maliseche kumene aliko akanangokonzekera kupanga resign kkkkkkkk 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🇲🇼🇲🇼🇲🇼🇲🇼🇲🇼

  43. Apa ndiye timati kuiputa ndewu shuwa ndipo wapolisi konzeka akuswadi anthu ulendo akanganya awa akupwetekesani akufuna zawo ziyende inu mukhalile kudana ndimtundu.

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