By Richard Kayenda
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The High and Magistrate Courts in Lilongwe have found Uladi Mussa, Peter Katasha, David H. Kwanjana, Mr Pascal Rwasa, a Burundian and Esili Kubwimasa, a Rwandese with a case to answer.
According to a press statement released by the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) on 28th October, 2019, the Bureau received a complaint on 25 September, 2015, that on 14 May, 2014, the Chief Immigration Officer granted Malawi Citizenship to Rwandan Nationals using a file belonging to another Foreign national.
Later on, ACB instituted investigations and established that the citizenships were granted to ineligible people.
Subsequently, on 28 February, 2017, ACB arrested Peter Katasha, a Malawian, for presenting false information that he was related to some foreign nationals who were applying for Malawi Citizenship. He was charged with uttering a false document contrary to Section 121 as read with Section 360 of the Penal Code.
A month later, ACB effected an arrest of Uladi Mussa, former Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security, and David Kwanjana, former Senior Assistant Chief Immigration Officer, now Regional Immigration Officer Centre.
The two were taken to Lilongwe Magistrate Court where they were charged with one count of neglect to official duties contrary to Section 121 of the Penal Code and misuse of public office contrary to Section 25 B (1) of the Corrupt Practices Act.
On 9th March, 2017, the Bureau arrested Mr Pascal Rwasa, Burundian, for presenting false information that he was related to another foreign national who was applying for Malawi Citizenship by presenting him as a dependant yet he was above 18 years old and was not related to him.
He was charged with uttering a false document contrary to Section 122 as read with Section 360 of the Penal Code.
On 13th March, 2017, the Bureau arrested Esili Kubwimasa, a Rwandan, for giving 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 the Penal Code.
Against this background, on 21st October, 2019, the High Court sitting in Lilongwe found the four with a case to answer on the charges.
They will appear thereto from 25 to 27 November, 2019 to defend themselves.
In a related development, on 23rd October, 2019, the Lilongwe Magistrate Court found Charles Phiri, Senior Clinical Officer at Kamuzu Central Hospital, with a case to answer for issuing a fake medical report to a cash gate suspect, Philbert Mkandawire.
Mkandawire used the said document to obtain an adjournment in a case he is answering before the Lilongwe Magistrate Court.
Mkandawire appear in court on 14th November, 2019 for defence.
