Roy Kachale rejects cashgate link: Questions credibility of Baker Tilly report

Member of Parliament for Zomba Malosa, Roy Kachale has reacted to his mentioning in the Baker Tilly forensic audit report containing names of companies and individuals who allegedly siphoned money from Malawi Government coffers in a scandal dubbed ‘cashgate’.

The auditors identified nine people who are linked to companies involved in cashgate, among Kachale.

Kachale, who is a son to former president Joyce Banda (not mentioned in the report), has only been mentioned to have allegedly had an affair with one of the implicated cashgate suspect Laura Savala but himself not linked to the financial plunder.

“Anecdotal evidence would suggest Laura Savala and Akajuwe Roy Kachale Banda are in a relationship as girlfriend and boyfriend. Akajuwe Roy Kachale Banda stood in the Parliamentary Elections as a People Party candidate,” reads a note in the report.

Kachale has denied any affair with Savala saying the allegations are “incorrect, malicious, disrespectful and defamatory, which are merely intended at damaging and injuring my personal character, reputation and standing in society”.

In a media statement issued on Friday, the lawmaker categorically denied any knowledge of the entities and the owners of the entities mentioned and being associated with him in the Forensic Report by Baker Tilly.

He said “grave allegations” in the report are false, malicious and a deliberate attempt to damage his reputation and that of his family.

“I am a man of good standing in society, happily married man and a devout Catholic,” he declared.

Kachale said the forensic report by Baker Tilly falls short of proving his direct link to cashgate or the people allegedly directly involved in cashgate.

“Nowhere in the Forensic Report by Baker Tilly is it indicated that I am owner of any company or business involved in cashgate.

“I, Roy Kachale Banda, would like to put it on record that at no time did Baker Tilly interview me on my alleged relationship with any of the alleged cashgate culprits, or indeed on any element of its Forensic Report,” he said.

He said the inability to interview him and thereafter proceeding to include him name in the Forensic Report, is  “a blatant departure from the basic principles of general and forensic investigations, auditing and rules of natural justice.”

Kachale said he now holds  the view that the report  “lacks credibility, it is unreliable and only serves to worsen Malawi’s ailing political, social and economic situation.”

“The report specifically serves to tarnish my character as a citizen of Malawi and as an individual as well as a politician, businessman, husband and father. The Report is not based on any proven facts but mere speculation and hearsay. The Report lacks a professional approach,” reads Kachale’s statement

He has demanded an outright apology by Baker Tilly and immediate withdrawal of its Forensic Report currently in circulation.

“I also demand that Baker Tilly reissues another report without any reference to ‘Akajuwe Roy Kachale Banda’ for I am not involved in any manner in cashgate.”

Speaking during the news conference to release the report, Minister of Justice Samuel Tembenu, who was flanked by Minister of Information Kondwani Nankhumwa and deputy Auditor General Langton Gomani, stressed that the report was not an indictment of anybody, but investigations into how government lost billions.

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