Malawi Revenue Authority arrests businessman for fraud: Rafik Amad

The Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) has arrested Managing Director of Intertrade Agency and Mozimplex, a Mozambique based company, Mohamed Rafik Amad, for allegedly using false custom documents to externalize forex.

Amad was arrested on Tuesday, June 16 2015 for presenting fake custom documents to banks for remittance of $720,000 and $768,000 to Hong Kong, according to MRA Deputy Director of Corporate Affairs.

The fake custom documents were presented to the banks on two separate occasions.

“On each occasion he justified the remittance as pre-clearance to import 4,500 tonnes of cotton seed.

“However, the importations were never made. On both cases, Amad knowingly faked customs documents to deceive banks, contrary to Section 135(d) as read with Section 143 of the Customs and Excise Act,” said Kapoloma.

Meanwhile, the tax collecting body is working with the Anti-corruption Bureau (ACB) and other enforcing agencies to arrest more unpatriotic and unscrupulous business persons who are also externalizing forex through fake custom documents.

Kapoloma has since appealed to the general public to always report issues of any malpractices such as tax evasion, smuggling and corruption.