Lutepo falls ill after arrest on tax avasion: In hospital

Chief Cashgate suspect Oswald Lutepo was nabbed by Police on Monday for tax evasion charges and became seriously ill after being arrested.

He was rushed to Kamuzu Central Hospital in the evening for suspected high blood pressure.

Nyasa Times reported Friday that public tax collector, Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) obtained an arrest warrant for Lutepo l for tax evasion.

He came out f his “hiding” place on Monday to surrender himself to police where he was formally arrested and got ill. He was taken to the hospital where he was admitted.

A hospital attendant at KCH has confided to Nyasa Times that Lutepo got there in police ambulance “unconscious.”

There was a surprise presence of some top government officials at the hospital where Lutepo was being treated.

MRA suspects an evading tax of about K1.8 billion (about $3.6m) from 2011 to 2014. The alleged evasion relates to non-payment of value-added tax (VAT) and income tax.

Lutepo said he will give details in how “tax has been embezzled and continue to be embezzled, I know the process and I am ready to disclose.”

MRA working jointly with Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) and Financial Intelligence Unit are following the leads in the billions paid by Malawi Defence Force through cashgate tainted contracts.

Two companies, International Procurement Services and OG Construction, owned by Lutepo pocketed $6.2-million. Lutepo is being tried by the high court on charges of laundering, theft and attempted murder.

He also answers perjury charge after admitted that he lied in court under oath in cashgate case.