Lutepo now faces tax evasion charges

November 22, 2014 Nyasa Times Reporter 27 Comments

Public tax collector, Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) obtained an arrest warrant for businessman Oswald Lutepo, a prime suspect in the plundering of public funds dubbed cashgate scandal for tax evasion.

Lutepo (L) with his first lawyer when he was arrested for cashgate Jai Banda
Lutepo (L) with his first lawyer when he was arrested for cashgate Jai Banda

Lutepo was earmarked for arrest on Friday together with former Ministry Finance Budget Director Paul Mphwiyo, businessmen Shiraz Ferreira and Nelson Johannes Kauwa.  He was not arrested but the three were picked on tax evasion charges.

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.”

The chief cashgate suspect told a Zodiak Broadcasting Station that he is “in hiding” for fear of his life after admitting wrongdoing in the cashgate and then implicating former president Joyce Banda as the “main beneficiary”, claiming he was giving her some of his stolen money for political campaign.

The former president dismissed the allegation as “false” and “malicious.”

MRA sources said Lutepo faces arrest.

“We are interested in questioning him,” said an investigator at the public tax collector.

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.

Gun-shot survivor Mphwiyo, Ferreira and Kauwa were arrested on Friday and remained in police custody at the time of posting this story.

Ferreira trade as SF International while Kauwa is the co-owner of Thuso Group with Alexander Banda, according to Steven Kapoloma, MRA Deputy Director Corporate Affairs.

Kapoloma said they could not divulge specific information as investigations were continuing.

“The accused persons will appear in court soon to answer criminal charges,” said Kapoloma.

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27 replies on “Lutepo now faces tax evasion charges”

  2. It is the same coin, only that we are looking on the other side. DPP, remove D, you remain with PP. UDF begot DPP and DPP begot PP. Sorry, there is nothing to out of this ssaga.

  3. Komanso paja pali k92bn imene anamangila casablanca, mpumulo wa bata, palinso k1.7bn imene tcheya samayankha zomveka bwino, ndiye tisayiwale zonsezi

  4. amalawi anzanga lets jst thnk GOD 4 lutepo whether h z a fool or watever nem mumpatse the fact z jb z th master of all evil gve hm chance to prove jb wrong gwengwe z building a very beatiful lodge kusalima kumalimba u av to 4low hm up again.mallan mtonga pin them.

  6. LUTEPO STARTED STEALING WITH LATE BINGU IN 2005 AND THROUGH LUTEPO BINGU MADE MK62 BILLION BEFORE GOD,S CALL, TO STOP THE LOOTING. LUTEPO BEFRIENDED PP TO CONTINUE LOOTING NOT KNOWING JB WAS DIFFERENT FROM BINGU!!!! THIS LED TO DISCLOSURE OF CASHGATE AND LUTEPO’S ARREST. THIS IS THE CORRECT CHRONOLOGY OF LUTEPO’S DOWNFALL AND SUFFERING. THE MAN DESERVES TO LOT IN PRISON AS HE IS INHUMAN (BEAST)!!!!!! DPP IS TRYING HARD TO CONCEAL BINGU’S PLUNDER WITH LUTEPO AS APM AND OTHER DPP GURUS ALSO BENEFITTED!!!!

  7. No matter what, JB will also pay. It’s a question of time. She may disown Lutepo and his claims for as long as she cares, hiding in the comfort of the US of A, but, the fact is she will pay. Too many people have died, their corpses rotting in mortuaries (torturing us even in death) and JB could think she can get away with this!! And the same may be said about Peter and his DPP. They have already started sending those with HIV/AIDS to their early graves by stealing the money meant to help them live longer, adding on the MK92bln of 2005/2010.

    You cannot do this sort of thing to fellow humans and get away with it for ever. Like someone has put it above, there is a time for everything. Ndithu amai kumanamiza nkhalamba zathu mumamizimu kuti mukuzifunira zabwino when in fact you are killing them slowly!! The amounts that were being shifted around are mind boggling, to say the least, and yet you would, without remorse, stand at podiums to tell the nation you had their interests at heart!! Huuum!! anganya, kodi timatero?

    GOD IS ALL-POWERFUL, INDEED. Mai you stand no chance against this guy we call our GOD.

  11. Alfred, are you saying former president Joyce Banda should not have been mentioned in cashgate by Lutepo. And you question why Lutepo has not mentioned president Mutharika. I know you have a side you wish to be protected. But don’t mix up issues. Cashgate is in court now, let it be dealt with and Malawians I guess are eager to know names and what was happening. Then when the current cashgate is concluded let the MK92 billion and other fraud cases go to court and be dealt with in the same way. Let us not confuse the truth by suggesting that the two important issues should be dealt with concurrently. One at a time please, Malawians want to know how people entrusted with power through their vote mismanage and steal resources meant to alleviate suffering of the country.

  12. Hahahahaha, ndaseka mokweza , Alutepo , zavutatu apa, boma la PP linakupusisani kuti mukhale supplier wawo panopanso boma la DPP likukupusisani kuti lili mbali yanu mcholinga kuti mumpake chipako JB , mwagwanayo

    Nde ka nyimbo aka ndiyesa mukukakumbuka :

    ….” CHAMUNYELELA CHIPAKO LUTEPO , CHAMUNYELELA CHIPAKO LUTEPO”

    Anthu amene adagwilapo ntchito ndi JB , akudziwanso kuti JB yekha yo si mungamuthe , funsani ku ADMARC , NABIWI etc etc.

    Kango pitani kundendeko basi.

  14. How possible can he say that he was giving the stolen money to JB yet he owns Tea Factory in Lomwe Land , batteries shops everywhere in Malawi , vehicles and the guy is very rich ? If you go very deep he started stealing with Bingu and Peter is scared with MK92 billion , this is just a cover up and Peter wants to use him as a shield for the DPP cash gate . Why is he mentioning of Peter failing to run the government , is it because of MK20 billion only ? Don’t try to protect by avoiding not to mention the MK92 which will bring the warms out of the can.

  15. It’s no longer rainning but pouring for this man. Ife amene timadya za thukuta lathu tiri phe pa mpando titakhuta mtendere wolonjezedwa ndi Ambuye wamoyo.

  16. anthu olimba mtima awa osowa umunthu amzawo akumwalira kusowa mankhwala mzipatalamu, kumavunda motuary itagujuka kumaima maliro fungo ili gu koma guyz inu achina jb inu lapani letu ndikuvomereza mwasanga mwina ndikukhululukidwako zokana izi muluchedwanazo

  20. We seem to be moving in a vicious circle. Lero timva izi mawa timva zina. Malawian politicians are a disgrace. In all this a poor Malawian villager is a loser. Instead of uniting to fight for our rights we are divided on our loyalty depending on our tribes and political affiliation courtesy of the same crooked politician.

    1. Lesser criminals are being jailed, or burnt. I cannot even start to think what punishment this shit of a person should get.

  22. There is always time for everything, time to sow and time to reap, time to laugh and time to cry. A Lutepo apa nthawi yakwana yolira, munakondwa ndi kuseka kwambiri ndi ndalama zathu pamene ife timalira, wonani JB akukusasani. Ife timadabwa kuti JB ndalama akuzitenga kuti mukanthawi kochepa, kugulisa mandasi komweku?

  23. Tiyenazoni, dziko liri ngati glass ukaseka nalo limaseka ukakwiya nalo limakwiya
    Ukunso Amma akusowa mtendere.

    Padziko lampansi palibe chinsinsi, nthawi yakwana tsopano dziko lanu lomwe mulimve kunukha

    Ntchito za manja anu zikuchitileni umboni

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