Masangwi in alleged tax evasion scam: MRA impounds truck
Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) on Friday impounded a truck which was being cleared by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) regional governor for the south, Noel Masangwi, allegedly trying to evade tax by smuggling beer.
The truck registration number BQ3850 and trailer registration number BQ9470 were impounded at Mwanza border when it was declared that it had carried Thinners but officials were tipped by a whistle-blower that is has beer.
It is said the 42 feet container has goods worth several millions.
The truck was taken to Elvis Freight – belonging to Masangwi- but MRA impounded it and took to Msonkho House where it is being guarded waiting to be opened on Saturday morning.
MRA officials Maggie Katsonga and a Mr Kachala were commandeering the operation to impound the truck.
When Nyasa Times contacted Masangwi on Friday evening, he simply said: “I don’t know anything about this.”
However, MRA officials claimed the flamboyant DPP regional governor issued threats to the custom officials manning the boarder.
Masangwi said he has been doing clearing business even before he became DPP governor, dismissing that he made threats.
Nyasa Times understands that the importer is David Lanjesi owner of Thompex who has shops in Rajan building selling wines and spirits at Ginnery Corner in Blantyre.
Masangwi is one the leading financiers of DPP in the southern region.
He had reportedly obtained an injunction stopping a newspaper from publishing a story of K36 million tax evasion involving him, forcing a newspaper to withdraw a completed weekend edition that was on its way to outlets.
But Masangwi said investigations were made on such allegations and that he was cleared.
Nonetheless, acting president of DPP, professor Peter Mutharika, is on record calling Masangwi in a leaked clip that he is “ a smuggler.”
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