BLANTYRE(MARAPOST)—The Forensic audit report conducted by a British accounting firm, Baker Tilly Business Services Limited into the looting of public resources at Capital Hill continues to attract mixed reactions with[B] economic expert Henry Kachaje[/B] saying it is not genuine.
“How come it doesn’t mention that the Budget Director (Paul Mphwiyo) was the one fighting corruption and looting? How come it doesn’t mention that in September the President called the Minister of Finance (then Ken Lipenga) to start investigations on suspicious transactions as we were meant to believe,” queried Kachaje, who is also Managing of Business Consult Africa.
Leader of Opposition in Parliament John Tembo is also doubting the contents of the report as it is in contradiction with the preliminary findings of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), which indicated that over K20 billion was looted.
The forensic audit report, to be presented to the Speaker of National Assembly, Henry Chimunthu Banda monday by Minister of Finance Maxwell Mkwezalamba, shows that only K13.6 billion was mismanaged in the infamous cashgate scandal.
It only covers financial transactions of government for the period April to September 2013 and it does not mention specific names of individuals and companies that were involved.
The report also shows that K 6 billion was stolen between April and September 2013; K 3 billion was made as payments without supporting documents while another K 3 billion was stolen through exaggerated procurement prices.
It says some local Banks and other international Banks were involved in the processing of dubious transactions which are connected to the stolen public funds at the Capital Hill.
However, Tembo is of the view that the K13 billion figure presented by the forensic auditors is small and that the figure has been deliberately lowered.
Some quarters have also faulted the report for not unveiling companies, individuals and the names of Banks which were involved in the malpractice.
They have argued that the report has not brought what Malawians were waiting as it is just like document confirming that there was indeed looting of public resources, which is common knowledge to every citizen.
