The Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) has arrested Northern Region Commissioner of Police Richard Luhanga over alleged abuse of office.
A statement signed by ACB Principal Public Relations Officer Egrita Ndala says the arrest follows completion of investigations by the ACB on a report it received.
It says the report alleged that Luhanga committed the offence while serving as Commissioner of the Malawi Police Service (MPS) in Mzuzu between 2022 and 2023.
Ndala said the commissioner allegedly abused his office for his personal advantage by using paint donated by Press Trust Limited to the Northern Region Police Headquarters to paint Mzuzu Police Hospital as well as paint his private properties located at Nkhozo Estate in Bolero, Rumphi.
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Luhanga is expected to be charged with abuse of office, in line with Section 25B (1) as read with sections 25B (4) and 34 of the Corrupt Practices Act (CPA).
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When put to him that a serving police officer had been arrested by ACB agents, Malawi Police Service (MPS) spokesperson Peter Kalaya said he could not comment on the issue.
In January last year, MPS transferred Luhanga, who was Commissioner of Police for the South West Region, to Northern Region Headquarters in similar capacity.
Luhanga swapped roles with Noel Kaira.
Meanwhile, Mzuzu Chief Resident Magistrate Leornard Konyani has granted Luhanga bail after he appeared in court yesterday afternoon.
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Representing Luhanga, lawyer Victor Gondwe said no plea had been taken, adding that there were some things that had to be changed in the charge sheet.
Gondwe also said they would wait for disclosures from ACB.
Among bail conditions, Luhanga has been asked to pay a cash bond of K500,000 and surrender travel documents to the court.
