Malawi Police Service officers have arrested six people in Lilongwe for allegedly printing out K1.1 billion Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) Value Added Tax (VAT) receipts that are suspected to be fake.
The six suspects are also accused of issuing the same to business owners.
They appeared before the Lilongwe Magistrate Court Thursday, when they were charged with stealing, fraud and conspiracy.
During the court appearance, State prosecutor Cecilia Zangazanga said the six were taken to court to be formally charged.
“We have brought them to court today so that they can be informed about why they are being kept in custody,” Zangazanga said.
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She further told the court that the State is still investigating the matter.
According to the particulars of the offence, McDonald Takumana and Ali Wisky— being servants employed by Melton Hardware as sales clerks and accountant assistants in 2023 in Lilongwe, respectively, with intent to defraud— were privy to make a false transaction by printing out false MRA receipts and issuing them to business owners without making sales for their own benefit amounting to K1.1 billion.
The other offence is that Takumana and Wisky allegedly stole K1.1 billion belonging to Melton Hardware.
The other offence is that Takumana, Wisky, Kalindo Juma Golosi, Austin Ching’ani, Firstday Ching’ani, and George Masoko conspired to defraud Melton Hardware by printing out K1.1 billion MRA receipts without making any sales.
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Meanwhile, lawyer who is representing some of the accused, Robert Majekete, has applied for their bail.
Senior Resident Magistrate Wanangwa Nyirenda is expected to give a ruling on the bail application today.
