LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s graft agency Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) faces public backlash for seating 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.
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.
“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.
The development has attracted public backlash as to why eight years ACB is unable to prosecute Luher and Kubwimana.
But when contacted on Tuesday evening, July 8, 2025, ACB publicist Ndala said, “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.
Meanwhile, Laher is court fighting with the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) as to why the DPP Masauko Chamkakala withdrew criminal case against Paramount Holdings and its directors.
In March 2024, DPP withdrew the case arguing that there was no enough evidence to prosecute the accused that on June 27, 2025 Chief Resident Magistrate court in Lilongwe acquitted Paramount Holding Limited and directors.
Laher wants the court to prosecute Paramount Holdings and its directors that they be found guilty hoping that his Luthando Holdings remains Yamaha sole dealer in Malawi.
Luthando owner fighting with DPP on a dropped case comes after Yamaha Japanese International certified Paramount Holding Limited as Malawi’s sole dealer and distributor.