LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s civil rights group under the banner Young Human Rights Defenders Network (YHRDN) is demanding updates from Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to give Malawians on corruption case involving Malawian and Rwandese nationals Hendrix Laher and Esili Kubwimana respectively for aiding and abetting public officers in abusing their offices to grant foreigners obtaining Malawian citizenship fraudulently.
YHRDN demand comes after eight years ACB has been seating on the case since 2017.
Despite ACB arresting Laher, Luthando Holdings Limited owner and Kubwimana in March 2017, the duo remains on bail without being tried in the court.
According to court document, ACB acted on a tip-off and arrested Laher and Kubwimana Malawian and Rwandese in Lilongwe and Blantyre respectively.
ACB’ Senior Public Relations Officer, Egrita Ndala said Laher was suspected to have aided public officers to abuse their offices contrary to Section 35 of the Corrupt Practices Act.
This has prompted the grouping to demand explanation from ACB as to why the case not pursued…
In an open letter dated July 31, 2025 and signed by YHRDN Chairperson Mervin Nxumayo sent to ACB Director and copied to Chief Justice demands full trial of the case.
“Young Human Rights Defenders Network (YHRDN) Demands for ACB to give Malawians an update on the case involving Hendrix Laher and Esili Kubwimana.
“YHRDN would like to know from the office of ACB and Chief Justice on the progress made by them in as far as the above mentioned names’ cases are concerned”, reads the statement in part.
YHRDN observes, “This comes after we were surprised that the arrest of these people on March 14, 2017 there is no any proceedings that are seen on the matter so the outcome prevails. YHRDN understands that this delay is happening even when the office of Chief Justice Ordered that all Courts in Malawi must finish all installed cases within 90 days.
“YHRDN believes that having courts in our Country as per the country’s protocol by which Judiciary is part of the three arms of Government is concerned, the speed in dealing with such cases may help Malawians to know the truth on time and those suspects know their way forward on time as well”.
YHRDN appeals, “We therefore demand for an immediate response on our request, failing which we shall take further actions”.
But when contacted on several times ACB publicist Ndala says, “I’m not aware currently the status of this case. Give me time and will come back to you”.
Although, ACB has failed to prosecute the duo in eight years, the same bureau successfully tried former Homeland Security Minister Uladi Mussa.
Mussa was jailed five years and later President Lazarus Chakwera pardoned him.
According to ACB statement on the duo reads, “On 25th September, 2015, the Anti-Corruption Bureau received a complaint alleging that on 14th May, 2014, the then Chief Immigration Officer granted Malawi Citizenship to Rwandan Nationals using a file belonging to another foreign national.
“The Anti-Corruption Bureau instituted investigations and established that citizenships were granted to people who were not eligible,” said Ndala.
Kubwimana was suspected to have given false information to immigration officers when making applications for Business Resident Permit and Malawi citizenship contrary to Section 122 as read with Section 360 of Penal Code.
Despite duo taken to court while granting them bail, the case remains in the files, eight years down the line.
