LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Office of Attorney (AG) cleared Malachite FZE that the company be paid for supply of eight anti-riot water cannons to Malawi Police Service.
According to AG’s leaked legal document in our possession, approved the payment privately which was sent to the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).
AG Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda argued that the decision was arrived on basis that the restriction order by ACB had become ‘academic’ following the earlier termination of the contract by his office.
The Attorney General defended the move, saying his advice was in line with the law.
“Therefore, it is incorrect to suggest that in public my office terminated the contract but in private asked the Police to pay, the legal opinion to ACB implies that the company can only be paid for the water cannons that he supplied successfully, and Malawi Police took delivery of the same. This is within the law, as per the contract signed, but anything coming after the termination of the contract is what can be regarded as illegal,” said Nyirenda.
Consequently, after the leaked legal document particularly from ACB office, Nyirenda warned for hard decision towards any person involved in the action.
This is the reason, Platform for Investigative Journalism (PIJ) is also under probe for accessing leaked document.
On Tuesday, April 5, 2022 Malawi Police Service stormed PIJ offices and seized phones and computers as part of raid on legal leaked ACB document.
In a statement made available to The Maravi Post, National Police Publicist James Kadadzera confirmed Gondwe’s under the law enforcers probe not arrest.
“Malawians should always know be in the know that the service has the mandate of inviting individuals deemed important to help in an investigation and such a scenario, it does not always mean that the interviewee is arrested.
“It has to be put in a right context therefore that when the interview session is over, Mr. Gregory Gondwe will be allowed to return home. MPS assures Malawians of professional standards by police officers in crime investigation,” reads part police statement.
PIJ leader Gondwe released on Tuesday evening, April 5, 2022 upon interrogated.
Initially, AG advised the ACB against directly cooperating with the National Crimes Agency of the UK without his office involvement.
The AG has also pushed for ACB investigations of businessman Karim Batatawala, whose case is currently in court.
