Former minister of Homeland Security Ezekiel Ching’oma yesterday was formally charged as a third suspect in a case where two former senior police officers are accused of extorting K1.3 billion from three businesspersons.
Ching’oma appeared before Blantyre senior resident magistrate Assunta Maxwell where the State tendered an amended charge sheet, making him the third suspect with three charges to answer.
The other two suspects are former deputy Inspector General of Police (operations) Ackis Muwanga and former crime Superintendent Laudon Nthinda.
Ching’oma, who was summoned to appear before the court, was charged with attempted extortion by threat, abuse of public office and money laundering all suspected to have been committed on June 20 2025 when he was a Cabinet minister.
The trio is suspected to have, with an intention to extort, accused businesspersons Yasir Haji Yousuf, Muhammad Imran Moosa and Imran Abdul Rasheed of money laundering and allegedly abused their authority to “obtain directly for themselves” K1.3 billion from them.
After charging Ching’oma yesterday, the State represented by police Superintendent Davie Kusamale expressed its wish to commit the case to the High Court of Malawi.
Ching’oma is expected to take a plea in subsequent court appearances.
Ching’oma’s lawyer, Khumbo Soko, then asked the court to transfer the case to Lilongwe.
The case has since been adjourned to March 6 2025 when the court will also make rulings on the applications from both sides.
On November 18 2025, the magistrate court granted bail to Muwanga and Nthinda, five days after they pleaded not guilty to the three charges.
