Murekezi jailed for five years: Rwandan guity of corruption

Rwandan national Vincent Murekezi  has been jailed for five years on Monday after being he was convicted  of corruption  by the  Lilongwe Magistrate’s Court almost nine years after he was tried in absentia.

Murekezi jailed – photo by Mphatso Nkhoma, Nyasa Times

Murekezi’s co-accused Komani Nyasulu was already convicted and served his sentence.

The court heard that Murekezi was convicted of the offence of corrupt transaction by private body contrary to section 26 subsection 2 of the corrupt practices Act where it was alleged that he on or about the 30 of December 2007 in the city of Lilongwe corruptly gave  Nyasulu a clearing agent with Trade and Freight Connections K200 000 in order to facilitate evasion of import duty of approximately K2.2million which was payable to Malawi Government.

Principal Resident Magistrate Chilunga Chirwa said Murekezi deserved  custodial sentence.

“Having arrived at the decision that an immediate custody term is  deserved , the next issue is how long should the sentence be. Without a doubt he does not deserve a short sentence. This is not a matter where he pleaded  guilty. It is my honest belief that the offender herein deserves more than 4 years as the advantage offered in instant case was higher and it resulted in the loss of a lot of money in revenue.

“It is my view that he deserves 5 years imprisonment with hard labour to run from the day he was convicted by this court namely the 2 February, 2017,” said the Magistrate.

Murekezi’s lawyer Gift Katundu said  the Rwandan has already instructed him to appeal the sentence, saying it is “harsh”.

“My client has already advised me to appeal the sentence,” Katundu told Nyasa Times.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested Murekezi in December last year after noting that he was a wanted person in a corruption case dating back to 2008.

Meanwhile, Murekezi is also  facing possible extradition after fleeing his country before his conviction of genocide charges.

Malawi and Rwanda recently signed extradition treaty.

 

Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :

Sharing is caring!

Follow us in Twitter
10 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Chimwemwe Ngwira
Chimwemwe Ngwira
7 years ago

Murekezi seems to be a chief in our own territory. How can he know the harshness of the punishment in our own land. This Murekezi should be example to his fellow foreigners. How come a foreigner with a lot of criminal cases. Murekezi is not a good citizen to be hosted. I wish all cases he shoulders could have been handled and charged in town. Ayiwone Bangwe ameneyu

Timveponsozina
Timveponsozina
7 years ago

For just your advice. In the land of Trump, you serve your sentece and then get deported!!! Let him serve and then leave the country!!!!!! Malawi for Malawians!!!! not so?????

Chenjeraninaye
Chenjeraninaye
7 years ago

Amayi ine,the new inmate and the cops are trans-passing the high court premises!!!! Where is the garden man or flower man??? How can our country remain beautiful,if we continue taking these short cuts????

Akuthawaniuyo
Akuthawaniuyo
7 years ago

I like this picture as it seems a prisoner to be is rushing to his new cell. Secondly,the cops seem not catching up with him. You guys,need to exercise and stop eating fast foot like the road side kanyenya and machipisi!!!!!

D Tembo
D Tembo
7 years ago

Murekezi get 5 years in jail over corruption case? Now Malawi Government and Judiciary should proceed with extradition to Rwanda issue and forgery documents used to get Malawi passport and citizenship. Murekezi and his Rwandese/Burundians groups should know that Malawi is no longer safe place to those Genocide against Tutsi convicts or suspects and criminals. They must go back to their respectively country to face justice.

ellias
ellias
7 years ago
Reply to  D Tembo

He did not forge any document but the fools at immigration were palm oiled nde anampangila passport.

Nganiza Bwino
7 years ago

He is convicted hard because he is not one of them? I don’t support his crime but the truth most so called high or bwanas don’t pay duty or they bribe. The people to blame for bribe are cusromer officials. So much money is lost. Money which could have been going togovernmeng coffen. If this country was doing well in customs duty , road traffic, taxes, water board, city rates, ESCOM etc I am sure the nation was going to improve in many varies things.

MussAh
7 years ago

Good

Bizimungu Mtubamtunganya
Bizimungu Mtubamtunganya
7 years ago

So it is harsh eh? Anthu akumangidwa 6 years chifukwa chakuba nkhuku! Iwe mbuzi eti! You thought you will get away with it.

Ndipo dikira akuchite extradite upita kwanu akakukwidzinge mlandu wa genocide ukadziwe what harsh means!

angoni apaphata
angoni apaphata
7 years ago

Do we defending foreign criminals? Zinazi tiyeni tidzikana. Let us love ourselves and our country…

Read previous post:
Zodiak’s Tereza Ndanga for a cut in MISA membership fee for students

Director of News and Current Affairs at Malawi’s Zodiak Radio Station, Tereza Temweka Ndanga has challenged journalists in the Northern...

Close