Salima district Council on Friday referred eight of its employees to the police after they allegedly swindling K7.1 million public funds.
Salima Chairpeson for the Finance Commitee Councilor Peter Kadam’manja confirmed the development and said the swindled funds were part of the Council’s tax collection fund.
An audit was conducted by the Council’s auditor Charles Kamvabingu, after it was noted that revenue was not increasing despite efforts and the growing business community.
Maravi Post established that the Council suspended the eight from their respective jobs in May this year, in order to pave way for the investigation.
“Investigations conducted by our auditor, revealed that the eight did not account for more money than we thought at the time we suspended them. The figure, according to the findings rose from K 2.1 million to K7.1 million,” said Kadam’manja.
Kadam’manja added that “at the time of their suspension, the eight confirmed that they had indeed not accounted for some of the money they collected while carrying out their job as revenue collectors.”
The eight are identifiedd as Blessings Banda, Daniel Chenjerani, Judith Duncan, Maxity Makhuwira, John Mitawa, Henry Gama, Mercy Matola as well as Manuel Chiwoko and are suspected of each not having accounted for K1,560,240.00, K1,332,020.00, K1,329,500.00, K1,255,200.00, K910.000.00, 345,000.00, 219,500.00 and K168,500.00 respectively.
Police said the eight will answer the charges of theft by public servant.