Man arrested for using fake Malawi customs documents to externalize forex

The Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) on Wednesday arrested Mr. Tushar Vinodrai Lakhani of Lakhani Trading Company for using a fake Customs document to externalize forex amounting to US$39,112.50 contrary to provisions of the Customs and Excise Act (Cap 42:01 of the Laws of Malawi).

Lakhani is suspected to have forged a Customs seal, signature and initials used by an officer of the MRA in November 2014, contrary to section 132 (e) of the Customs and Excise Act.

“Lakhani presented a counterfeit signature and stamps to National Bank of Malawi as evidence for the importation of polyester fabrics from Infinity Trading Company in Dubai in order to externalize forex,” said Raphael Kamoto, MRA Commissioner General.

The suspect is also believed to have used a forged Customs Declaration Form 12, to purportedly deceive National Bank of Malawi to transfer the said amount contrary to Section 135 (d) of the Customs and Excise Act.

The fake Form 12 was used to verify payment for importation of polyester fabrics into the country,” added the statement.

The arrest follows a stern warning the Malawi Revenue Authority and the Anti-Corruption Bureau made in November 2014 to unscrupulous business persons that were remitting funds abroad using fake Customs documents.

The Commissioner General has since stressed that his Authority will continue to work with the ACB and other law enforcing agencies to bring to book unpatriotic individuals by using existing legal instruments.