Malawi ex-leader Muluzi given back seized vehicles

Malawi’s former president Bakili Muluzi has been given back over 60 vehicles which the country’s anti-corruption bureau (ACB) seized from him in 2009 which it suspected were bought using corruption earnings.

According to ACB deputy director Reyneck Matemba, the vehicles were really “deteriorating” hence an out-of-court agreement between anti-graft body and Muluzi lawyers led to the release of the vehicles earlier this year.

The agreement was subsequently validated by court consent, Matemba disclosed.

Matemba said the corruption watchdog still has maintained the custody of the vehicles’ bluebooks “so that no one could change their ownership prior to the conclusion of the court case.”

According to Matemba, the decision to release the vehicle was made long before the bureau and the country changed leadership.

But Muluzi’s bank accounts remain frozen since 2009 and he has no access to the money since then.

The case protracted since 2011 due to among other reasons, the former president’s health concerns is still ongoing at the High Court.

The former president was charged with corruption and abuse of office for allegedly diverting donor funds into his personal accounts.

Muluzi, Malawi’s first democratic president was initially charged with 86 counts of corruption and abuse of office. They were trimmed to three.

He denies any wrong doing.

Muluzi, who ruled the southern African nation for 10 years, stepped down in 2004 after unsuccessfully trying to change the constitution to allow him to stand again.