Three Malawi army officers arrested over dubious financial transactions

Three Malawi Defence Force (MDF) officers from Kamuzu Barracks in the capital Lilongwe are in military police custody on suspicion of dubious transactions.

According to published reports, MDF public affairs officer Taweni Kalua confirmed the officers’ names as Stewart Kasambala, Charles Kamwana and Richard Kazado.

The officers were arrested on Tuesday following revelations by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) that MDF was a target in the ongoing investigations into the looting of public resources.

The social media has been awash with reports that the MDF K2.9 Billion unaccounted for.

Geenral Odillo: Documents not released

It is reported that the graft-busting body has been pressing the Army Commander , General Henry Odillo to produce supporting documents for examination by ACB.

General Odillo is reported to have declined to handover the documents  to ACB  on pretext that they were “ security and secret document”.

However, Kalua said the questioning of the three officers was not in connection with cash-gate.

Kalua could not disclose the nature of the audit, but  is quoted by The Nation newspaper as saying it is “routine auditing exercise.”

ACB senior public relations officer Egrita Ndala said recently  the bureau was in the process of analysing documents in relation to the investigations.

“The ACB has been conducting investigations in a number of Government Departments, including the Malawi Defence Force since last month,” Ndala said.

“Since the matter is still being investigated, it would be premature for the bureau to divulge more information about this investigation for fear of prejudicing the investigation process,” she added.

President Joyce Banda has hired a new  cabinet  after the  financial controversy .

Last month, government’s budget director, Paul Mphwiyo, was shot and wounded in an apparent attempt to stop him from investigating graft, according to the President.

As many as 10 government officials have been arrested on charges on money laundering , abuse of public office and corruption, while nine senior police officers were jailed last month for their role in a $164,000 fraud.

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