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).

Kamoto: Confirmed the arrest on illegal forex deals
Kamoto: Confirmed the arrest on illegal forex deals

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.

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mbunde
mbunde
9 years ago

PP IDIOTS YOU ARE A PAIN IN THE A……… Did you want the thief scot free to allow money externalized kwa JOYICE …IDIOTS DOUBLE TIME

Anamasina 1988
Anamasina 1988
9 years ago

Inunso a nyasatimes ndinu ofoira. You are putting Kamoto’s picture instead of the crook! Too much respect to these Indians, why? Next time you carry a story concerning an Indian who is in the wrong, bring his face here. Ok? By the way, did the immigration department cease arresting and deporting unwanted weeds in our country who disguise themselves as foreigners? I mean Indians, Burundians, Nigerians as well as Somalians? All the way from india to work as a ware house watch man here? Is that fair? The only foreigners easy to caught by our stupid immigration is the Ethiopians… Read more »

Busy brains
Busy brains
9 years ago

Government should rotate or transfer staff regularly at all money making points. For example MRA staff at border posts, road traffic department, traffic police as well as airports. Most of these Indians connive with airport personnel to externalize our hard earned forex. No one was born to be in these places for ever. No! In Blantyre at road traffic, there is this rude lady in room 3 who don’t know why she is there. She needs to attend a customer care course. She talks to clients as if she is talking to her maids. While at the traffic police within… Read more »

Malawi wa Lero
Malawi wa Lero
9 years ago

Anapondetsana kumene. Akanganyawa aku India amaba pafupi tsiku lililonse koma suzawapeza atamangidwa sasiriyasi. Amwenye apa Raiply bwanji. Kuchoka mkatikati mwa February pabwera ma Minister atatu. M’modzi waiwo wabweranso kawiri. Ndalama zaperekedwa zopitilira 10 million. Mitengo ikutha chifukwa chogula mwachinyengo koma akuluakuwa akudziwa. Mwalo moti akonze zinthu angobwera kudzatenga ndalama. Ndizimene amafuna mwenye zimenezi.

Busy brains
Busy brains
9 years ago

So what are you going to do with this guy? Had it been he was an indigenous Malawian, he would have been in jail by now. But as you can recall Joseph Mkasa’s song that ndende zingodzaza ndi a mphawi, olemera amalakwa koma Chuma chawo chimawabisa! By the way, have you ever seen Mmwenye akugona mu prison, let alone mu police cell? Tinene kuti iwowo salakwa milandu ikulu ikulu? Treat us equally please!

zilipo
zilipo
9 years ago

The whole issue of forex externalisation is a farce – some transactions are legitimate. With the difficulty of getting loans In Malawi, some of us have resorted into taking loans from foreign banks to invest in Malawi in small scale businesses. Ultimately, some form of international money transfer has to happen to repay these loans. Are there any policies in place to protect such investments?

Busy brains
Busy brains
9 years ago

@ wink link, I totally agree with you! This lakhani boss will be left un touched. I wonder what really happened for this guy to be exposéd like this. There are so many Indians out there who are doing this. For example in Blantyre there are these few Mwenyez who do this; 1. Faisal of Chambo company. 2. OG Issa at Maselema through his secret forex bureau. 3. Gani of Victoria forex bureau opposite Mount Soche hotel. 4. Ibrahim of Ocean Car hire opposite NBS bank at ginnery corner. 5. Habibo opposite Limbe post office. Only that this Indian went… Read more »

Nangolo
Nangolo
9 years ago

Wandu wosope wawiyi tapalapatiche umbo soni tamale chisawu iwisa tukatamira kwadandaula kuti chi?

gondwe
gondwe
9 years ago

what about the Chineese, Nigerians, Burundians etc?

Malapwalapwa
Malapwalapwa
9 years ago

Utha wekha Kamoto,ufunse kaye Mtingwi ali kutiko.

Matapwata
Matapwata
9 years ago
Reply to  Malapwalapwa

choka chitsiru iwe mleke kamoto agwire ntchito mxiiiiii ndiwe wa dpp eti

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