Southern Region Police have arrested five football officials, including referee Alfred Kaphamtengo, for allegedly attempting to fix the Southern Region Football Association (SRFA) Premier Division match between Ntopwa and Fomo.
Kaphamtengo, Fomo Director Mary Woodworth, Bangwe All Stars owner Mphatso Jika, administrator Willard Banda and football fan Billy Severe were arrested on Sunday for allegedly attempting to fix the Premier Division decider.
The match was played at Kamuzu Stadium on Sunday and Fomo triumphed 4-3 on post-match penalties after the match ended 1-1 in regulation time.
South West Region Police Deputy spokesperson Beatrice Mikuwa confirmed the development, saying the five would be charged with two counts, namely conspiracy to commit a felony and corrupt practices.
“Another charge, running together with conspiracy to commit a felony, is corrupt practices, in line with Section 396(2) of the Penal Code (Cap 7:01) of the laws of Malawi,” Mikuwa said.
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Mikuwa said police arrested the five on Sunday at 13:00 hours, some hours before kick-off.
“We apprehended them in Limbe for questioning,” she said.
Meanwhile, Blantyre Senior Resident Magistrate Akiya Mwanyongo granted bail to the five at Dalton Court in Limbe Monday.
The court charged the suspects with conspiracy to commit a felony, which is in line with Section 404 of the Penal Code, and corrupt practices, which is against Section 396(2) of the Penal Code.
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The court heard that the grouping offered referee Mayamiko Kanjere a sum of K1.2 million as a reward to favour Fomo to get promotion into the Super League.
Meanwhile, State Prosecutor in the case, Sub-Inspector Martin Thulu, who represented Regional Prosecution Officer Superintendent Damiano Kaputa, told the court that he would parade four witnesses.
Mwanyongo granted the suspects bail on condition that they provide K1 million non-cash bail bond.
Each of the accused is required to provide surety with a bail bond of K500,000 and to appear at Blantyre South West Police every Monday of a fortnight.
The court also ordered the accused to surrender all travel documents to police and that if any of them wants to travel outside the country, they must seek police clearance and that they must not interfere with evidence.
Meanwhile, National Referees Association General Secretary Chris Kalichero expressed shock at the development.
