Namata, his wife face fresh charges: Malawi cashgate

Cashgate convict Maxwell Namata will face trial on new charges together with his wife Alice Namata and Robert Nantchito, the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) has said.

Namata was convicted and currently is serving a prison sentence of eight years after being found guilty of money laundering and theft in relation to the plunder of public resources at Capital Hill dubbed as cashgate.

He now faces new theft and money laundering charges.

ACB spokesperson Egritta Ndala confirmed that they would prosecute Namata, his wife and Nantchito on matters involving corrupt practices that took place at the Accountant General Office’s in 2011.

Nantchito is said to have worked as an accounts assistant in the Ministry of Lands.

“The Anti Corruption bureau is continuing with investigations into Cashgate. The investigation process looks at various dimensions of the cases. It should also be understood that the Anti Corruption Bureau had been conducting investigations into the abuse of resources at the Accountant General in 2011 before the revelations of Cashgate. It
should, therefore come as no surprise for the bureau to be investigating any cashgate suspects beyond 2012,” Mdala is quoted saying.

“The bureau has been working on Cashgate cases on case by case basis due to the magnitude of the cases. It would not be practical to take all angles of the case at once as that would be confusing and time consuming. The investigations are progressing. The bureau may not be able to discuss investigations matters as doing so may prejudice the process”, she said.

Namata was convicted alongside Luke Kasamba for K24 million they stole from public coffers and on subsequent money laundering charges.