Police arrest Ex-Tobacco Commission chief
Police in Lilongwe have arrested former Tobacco Commission (TC) chief executive officer (CEO) Kaisi Sadala.
National Police Headquarters deputy spokesperson Harry Namwaza confirmed the development Wednesday, saying Sadala was arrested on Tuesday.
“I can confirm Kayisi was arrested on Tuesday, May 17 2022, for abuse of office and is still in custody at Lilongwe Police Station,” Namwaza said.
According to Namwaza, Sadala is expected to appear in court today to be formally charged.
Sadala is accused of conspiring with others to sell institutional houses at prices below the market value.
In 2020, the TC cancelled the sale of the house on Plot Number CG88 (Title Number Chigumula 22) and another on plot Number 10/470 (Title Number Alimaunde 10/292) on allegations that the houses were sold at a price below valuation and at an amount lower than that of other bidders and Settlement Proposal on Disposal of Plot.
TC reported the matter to police for investigations.
Last year, TC CEO Joseph Chidanti Malunga confirmed that his organisation reported the matter to police for investigations.
Last year, TC refunded K50 million to Jayshree Patel, who purchased a TC house in Chigumula, after she surrendered the house.
In May 2020, a report by the office of the Ombudsman faulted TC over the sale of the two institutional houses, saying the properties were sold against a ban on sale of institutional houses.
Mathews Kasanda is a journalist who holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from University of Malawi (The Polytechnic).
In 2015, Media Institute of Southern Africa awarded him the Best Print Media Education Journalist of the Year accolade.
He joined Times Group Newsroom in September 2019.
