Indian ‘investor’ offers K60m bribe to minister, HRDC: Mayaya reports to ACB
Indian national Chandrashekar More, who is said to have set up an edible oil extraction plant in the country,—who was deported from Malawi in May 2017 following his arrest on alleged tax evasion charges— offered a K60 million bribe to Minister of Homeland Security Richard Chimwendo Banda for a reversal of his prohibitive immigration status and has been reported to Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).
Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) executive member Billy Mayaya has also given the graft-busting body recorded audio conversation between More and Mayaya when the Indian businessman offered the bribe.
In a letter to ACB dated December 23 2020, Mayaya alleges that that More sent him a WhatsApp text message on December 22 seeking to be linked to Chimwendo Banda so that the minister can reverse his deportation status.
Then he said More telephoned him, and he decided to record him pretending he was with the Minister.
“He called me where I then pretended to be with the minister although I was alone. He offered a payment of K60 million for a reversal of his prohibitive immigration status,” said Mayaya.
Nyasa Times listened to the recorded phone conversation and More is heard saying that he would offer Chimwendo Banda K30 million and also HRDC to advocate for his immigration status change.
ACB director general Reyneck Matemba confirmed receiving Mayaya’s complaint, saying it was filed and that it would investigate the matter.
Minister Chimwendo Banda said in an interview that he was delighted that Mayaya reported the matter to the bureau immediately the bribe was offered.
“I was alerted about the development through a phone call from Mayaya. I am pleased that he reported the matter swiftly to ACB,” said Chimwendo Banda.
The minister said he has never been in contact with More and would not have in any way accepted bribe.
More is on record to have threatened to file a public interest litigation to stop the Indian Government from helping Malawi with loans and suspend trade, especially on legumes.
The Indian businessman was arrested in September 2015 on tax evasion charges and returned to India having secured permission from the court during the same month.
He returned to Malawi in March 2017 to allegedly resolve the outstanding tax issues with Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) and reportedly insulted police officer when he obstructed his arrest and also offered bribes to tax collecting officials.
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I trust we still remember that there is Hassam Fiazal who owns Ilomba Mining and tried to bribe the officials in Mining Department for renewal of his licence.He recorded the clips and threaten to our officers. Why the Government not reject his renewal application?Today there is another amwenye, we will find anothers mawa.These Amwenyes are very corrupted. Why we still allow them staying in our land? Why? They stay in our land more then 200 years, what they did or do for us? Nothing,nothing. We malawian, we should open our eyes, and see!
@ Chi…read again the article …Mr More was here in 2017 …which means he is not in the country…
Paja corruption inatha.Ma kadetitu ndi amene amaba.
Mr More was deported and how come he is in Malawi. We are a laughing stock. Mr Kamwendo My Minister please tell us how this guy find his way here. What kind of message are sending to the crooks? Nowadays things have changed. People are looking for a government which is serious is there help its citizen
More sauce on the the story
I reconnect the claims Elemiya Chihana
What we have to know is that corruption is real
Mwenyeyi anamudziwa bwanji Maya? Tiyimepo kaye pamenepa ndithu. Something fishy went wrong among the three mentioned here. Si ife zitsiru kuti atiputsitse…mbava zonsezo. Wanna chani Kamchacha!!!!!
The K60 million was offered to Chimwendo Banda. Malawians can not see this. My problem is on the reason why Chimwendo Banda did not report this to ACB. ACB knows that this a case on Chimwendo. Second, it appears Chimwendo is highly ‘ corruptible’. The Lilongwe vendors have a case with him but is not progressing due to lack of political will.
Why this Indian Called and offered the Bribe he could have Contacted the Minsters itself and offered him K 60 Million as we all know our Ministers are all Corrupt and it will happen Not in Todays Time but in future for sure A person who can offer K 60 Million he must be very Rich and He will also come to Malawi the Way Bushiris came crossing Malawi Borders without Any Trace Immigration Dept should Check Bushiris Passport and Govt will come to know how he crossed over to Malawi from South Africa unless Chakwera he him self is… Read more »
Wangotalikila mwenyeyo, anakakhala pafupi zinakatheka