Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Tuesday arrested Vincent Ndovie, an officer working at the Immigration Department in Mzuzu, for alleged abuse of office, theft and intimidation.
In a statement dated February 13 2025, the bureau said after investigations, it established that Ndovie collected K78 500 from a client to help them acquire a passport.
Details in the statement say the officer did not offer a receipt to the client and failed to help them acquire the travel document.
ACB further said Ndovie threatened the service seeker with unspecified action upon realisation that he had been reported to the graft-busting agency.
The bureau arrested the officer in Blantyre and later took took him to Blantyre Magistrate’s Court.
“He was charged with three counts of abuse of office contrary to Section 25B of the Corrupt Practices Act, theft contrary to Section 278 as read with 271 of the Penal Code and intimidation contrary to Section 88 of the Penal Code,” reads the statement.
Ndovie was later granted bail on condition that he repots to ACB offices fortnightly, surrenders travel documents, pays K100 000 as bail bond and provides a noncash surety bonded at K2 million.
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services has been under intense pressure to deal with challenges bordering on passport issuance and illegal immigrants.
In November 2024, Ministry of Homeland Security promoted 200 immigration officers at the department from the rank of constable to sergeant.
The ministry said the promotion was one of the measures to improve service delivery in the establishment.
