Malawi Police Service is yet to hand over to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) a file pertaining to the arrest of eight people in connection with unclaimed police uniforms that are still at Kamuzu and Chileka International Airports.
This means the file has not been handed over, four months after the people were arrested, culminating in delays to prosecute the case, The Daily Times has learned.
In March this year, Malawi Police Service agents arrested businessman Riaz Jakhura, 59, South African businessman Moshing Nathwani, Javed Alam, 38, George Saonda, Enock Henderson, Chisomo Munthali and Castern Samuel Banda for allegedly knowing something about the issue.
They are expected to answer money laundering-related charges, forgery and uttering false documents.
They are also allegedly being suspected to have forged Inspector General of Police Merylyne Yolamu’s signature.
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Currently, all money laundering cases are being referred to the Financial Crimes Division of the High Court.
State lawyer Dzikondianthu Malunda said in an interview that the file is not yet among the cases that are being pursued as the police have not handed over the file.
“To the best of my knowledge, the matter is still with the police and they are still investigating [the issue]. After they are done, it is likely that the file will be sent to our office for prosecution,” Malunda said.
Malawi Police Service spokesperson Peter Kalaya said investigations on the matter are still underway.
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“The matter is still under investigation,” Kalaya said.
Times reported that there are consignments of Malawi Police supplies including 10,000 badges, 5,000 tactical security vests, 3,000 small and medium-size trousers for male personnel, 2,000 large pairs of trousers for male personnel, and 1,000 extra-large pairs of trousers for male personnel at Kamuzu International and Chileka airports.
Chief Justice Rizine Mzikamanda recently ordered that all money laundering and related cases should be handled at the Financial Crimes Division because the country’s courts are overburdened with corruption cases.
“Corruption has become difficult to deal with because it keeps on changing in the way it manifests, and the establishment of economic and financial courts was the best way to handle such matters,” Mzikamanda said.
