Suspect wants access to frozen accounts to pay for medical expenses – ACB

August 22, 2020 Wongani Chiuta - Nyasa Times 22 Comments

Malawi’s graft bursting body, Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) which last week  froze bank accounts belonging to the former President Peter Mutharika, his wife, Gertrude Mutharika, his top his security aide, who is currently on police remand, Norman Chisale, and the former Deputy Commissioner of the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA), Roza Mbirizi  says it has received a request from one of them to access the account in order to pay for medical expeses.

ACB czar Reyneck Matemba: In the event that we do not agree,  we would obviously have to take recourse to the courts

The bureau froze some bank accounts in connection with the  ongoing investigations into the importation of 1, 200 bags of cement which were allegedly brought into the country using Mutharika’s  Tax Payment Identification Number (TPIN).

ACB director Reyneck Matemba confirmed that the bureau  is looking into the issue , saying the access may be granted considering  authorities  on similar cases by Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal and the High Court which have in the past allowed people to have access to some funds from frozen bank accounts.

He, however, said the court only allowed access to  “sufficient” funds to meet the reasonable general living expenses as well as medical expenses.

Matemba said there is no “standard way” of determining how much an individual may be allowed to withdraw  from a frozen account.

“This is because reasonable general living expenses vary from one individual to another,” he said.

Matemba said ACB would need  proof of other individual’s general living expenses in utility an medical bills.

“In the event that we do not agree,  we would obviously have to take recourse to the courts for determination and proper guidance on what constitutes that individual’s general living expenses,” he stated.

ACB froze one bank account held by Mutharika individually and a joint account by him and his wife at New Building Society (NBS) and three accounts for Mbirizi at Standard Bank.

The accounts were frozen  after the bureau recently noticed that huge amounts of money were being withdrawn from them.

ACB has been investigating the importation of cement from Zambia and Zimbabwe worth over K5 billion between 2018 and 2019 using former president Mutharika’s privileges.

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22 replies on “Suspect wants access to frozen accounts to pay for medical expenses – ACB”

  2. Hahahaha, suspect wants access to stolen money is a better topic than suspect wants access to frozen money.

  4. Let them go to Mangochi DHO, the money that was stolen ought to have been used for the public service

  5. Can we (ACB) adjust to the necessary pace? It seems we are taking too long & believe you me its not healthy… Prosecute these guyz once & for all

  6. The money was stolen from Malawians. Why should they have access to it. The accounts should remain frozen till the cases are concluded. Zausilu!!!

  11. If they die due to poor medical care, we shall know who has killed them. You Matemba shall be personally accountable. You have been warned!!

  13. Some already took a chunk of money out already that’s why the accounts were frozen so why did they not pay their medical expenses with that money? These people want to continue living their lavish lifestyle which is based on stolen money and that’s exactly what ACB is trying to correct so don’t let them access our stolen tax money simply take them to courts sooner so that we establish their guilty and that money goes back where it belongs. Those medical records are all fake they aren’t sick. Don’t open a can of worms ACB

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