The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has arrested two more suspects in the abuse of office and failure to declare interest case against Mzimba North legislator Yeremiah Chihana.
The others are George Gopani and a former acting director of public works and Gabriel Mkandawire, a Northworks Limited contractor.
In a statement released on Saturday, ACB spokesperson Egrita Ndala said the bureau’s investigations established that in August 2022, Gopani provided false information to Mzimba DC on progress of grading of roads in Mzimba North Constituency.
She said the information was meant to authorise payment of K15 million to Northworks Limited contrary to Section 122 (a) of the Penal Code.
Reads the ACB statement in part: “Investigations also established that in May 2022, Gabriel Mkandawire, an accountant for Northworks Limited, forged an official document purporting to be a quotation from E and V Engineering for grading of Kia-Luhomero-Kasasile road, Enukweni-Kavula-Malokotera road and Bwengu-Katope road in Mzimba North Constituency under Honourable Yeremiah Chihana.
“The [two] were taken to court where they were charged. They applied for bail which the court granted. They will appear in court on a date to be set by the court.”
During Chihana’s bail application hearing a fortnight ago in the Mzuzu Principal Resident Magistrate’s Court, ACB principal legal and prosecutions officer Daniel Nyasulu said following investigations, the bureau has reasonable belief that Chihana and others at M’Mbelwa District Council committed some offences under the Corruption Practices Act (CPA).
He told the court that Chihana would not be taking a plea because other suspects involved in the case were yet to be arrested.
Based on the charge sheet, Chihana is accused of two counts of abuse of office and another of failure to declare interest.
In the first count, particulars are that on or around June to August 2022, Chihana, allegedly used K10 million from Constituency Development Fund (CDF) for his personal use.
The said money was supposed to be used for grading of Luhomero-Kasasile, Enukweni-Kavula-Malokotera and Bwengu-Katope roads by Northworks.
In the second count, Chihana allegedly requested M’mbelwa District Council to make payment of K15 million to Northworks Limited being final payment from CDF for the grading of the mentioned roads, allegedly with full knowledge that the said roads had not been graded and completed by the contractor.
