Two state employees nabbed for embezzling K17m
Fiscal department of Malawi police has nicked two government employees working in Kasungu district who allegedly swindling K17 million for the UNICEF funded projects.
The scam was revealed following an audit reported that implicated the two public servants- Tamanda Kamwachale Tembo (Mrs), a water and sanitation officer and her accomplice James Nyirenda, an environmental officer at Kasungu District Health Office (DHO).
The money, which was part of the multimillion WASH project, was received from UNICEF in 2009 meant for water and sanitation projects in the areas TA Chilowamatambe and Santhe in the district.
The funding was given to them in 2009 under the WASH Project.
Through the project, the two were expected to lead the project in constructing sanitation facilities in some schools and health centres and also to train some community members in best practices of hygiene.
But according to police, Tembo and Nyirenda thought of fraudulently making some quick riches by heavily underpaying the supervisors who were overseeing the construction of the facilities.
“We have indeed detained the two on suspicion that they misappropriated funds from UNICEF meant for water and sanitation projects in Kasungu district,” said Kasungu Police Officer in Charge John Nyondo.
“The two are alleged to have been heavily underpaying the supervisors during trainings. Instead of paying them K41 800 the two were only paying the participants K15800 and the rest of the money was reportedly finding its way into their pockets,” he explained.
Nyondo said the two have been charged with three counts of conspiracy, false accounting and theft by public servant and are expected to appear in court anytime this week.
