Businessperson Osward Lutepo, who was allegedly used as a conduit of stolen public funds, says he will soon return to Malawi to “cooperate” with authorities and face the law.
Lutepo said this in an interview on Sunday after he sought out our journalist to deliver the message.
In a telephone interview from an undisclosed location, Lutepo said: “Tell the Malawi nation that Lutepo is coming. I will cooperate with authorities in any way they want me to. I know people have made a lot of conclusions about me, but I am coming and whatever government expects to get from me, they will get it.”
Asked if he is not afraid of being arrested, Lutepo said an arrest is just part of a legal process and does not signal guilt.
“Arrest will not mean that I have been proven guilty of anything. After all, there are a lot of people who have been arrested and then later on proved that they are innocent,” said Lutepo, who said he travelled abroad on a business trip that he is concluding, enabling him to return home.
On Saturday, Weekend Nation reported seeing and verifying a list of 20 bank accounts and their names—including eight of Lutepo’s—that the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) is probing as part of the Capital Hill cash-gate crackdown.
Of the 20 frozen bank accounts, eight either wholly belong to Lutepo as an individual or he jointly owns them with partners.
The remaining 12 firms belong to various entrepreneurs, according to information contained in letters that ACB director Judge Rezine Mzikamanda has sent to various banks.
Lutepo’s two personal bank accounts, both under the name Oswald Lutepo, are held at FMB.
Details of the other companies—according to information from the Registrar General—that Lutepo has business interests in and which the ACB is investigating include:
lInternational Procurement Services (IPS) with registration number 87745 and Oswald Fywell Gibson Lutepo as the owner. IPS was the beneficiary of the K1 billion that an accountant in the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC), Chazika Munthali, allegedly made through the now discredited Integrated Financial Management and Information System (Ifmis) through which government has lost tens of billions of kwacha. Munthali was arrested by the ACB early this month.
—O & G Investments, with registration number 95303 and Oswald Lutepo as the owner.
—Woget Industries, whose registered owners are Oswald and Getrude Lutepo.
—Heart Freight (Reg No: 65453) with Oswald Fywell Gideon Lutepo as the owner.
—The Spare Giants & Stationers (Reg No: 89613) with Oswald Fywell Gideon Lutepo and Getrude Kapesa Lutepo as owners.
Two weeks ago, the Malawi Police Service said it has alerted International Police (Interpol) to issue warrant of arrests for Lutepo and another person, Pika Manondo.
Deputy Police Inspector General Nelson Bophani, who is also in charge of a special crime investigations committee, said Lutepo is wanted in connection with the alleged pilfering of government money while Manondo is a suspect in the shooting of budget director Paul Mphwiyo.
