The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has filed seven corruption charges against convicted Chinese wildlife trafficker Lin Yunhua, accusing him of bribing prison authorities and attempting to influence a magistrate to secure a lighter sentence.
According to a charge sheet The Nation has seen, Yunhua faces two counts of “corrupt practices with public officers” under Section 24(2) of the Corrupt Practices Act.
The other five counts are abuse of public office under Section 25B (2) of the same legislation.
A document dated October 25 alleges Yunhua offered Maula Prison officer-in-charge Aaron Ganyavu Kaunda K30 million to engage Judge Violet Chipao for a reduced sentence.
The charge sheet further states that Yunhua offered to “complete the construction of Kaunda’s house in Area 49, Lilongwe”.
These alleged actions were made prior to Yunhua’s sentencing to 14 years imprisonment for wildlife and money laundering offences in 2021, under criminal case number 797 of 2019.
The Lilongwe Magistrate’s Court has scheduled Thursday for Yunhua to enter his plea in criminal case number 753 of 2024.
The court sentenced Yunhua Lin to a cumulative 32 years in prison, 14 years for trading in rhino horn, 14 years for possession of rhino horn and an additional six years for money laundering.
Justice Chipao ruled that the sentences would run concurrently, resulting in a total of 14 years. Lin was arrested in August 2019, following a three-month manhunt.
