A statement from the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) says investigations showed that the former finance minister abused his office to approve the payment without considering the urgency and importance of the said equipment.

ACB spokesperson Egrita Ndala said the ACB conducted investigations following reports in October 2020 of a suspicious procurement from a company called One Guard FZE of Dubai.

He is currently in police custody, waiting to appear in court at an unspecified date.

“He will be taken to court after the bureau has interviewed him,” she added in the statement issued today, August 16.

Mwanamvekha, said Ndala, will face charges of abuse of office and neglect of official duties.

“The ACB recorded an allegation on 16th October, 2020 that the Ministry of Homeland Security suspiciously procured Malawi Prison Service uniforms and equipment from One Guard FZE of United Arab Emirates without following procedures.

“The ACB conducted investigations which established that Mr. Joseph Mwanamvekha abused his office and neglected official duties by among other things approving disbursement of funds to the Ministry of Homeland Security without verifying the urgency and importance of the procurement,” Ndala said.

The ACB earlier arrested former principal secretary in the Ministry of Homeland Security Samuel Madula, the ministry’s current principal secretary Kennedy Nkhoma and former homeland security minister Nicholas Dausi in connection with the same case.

The three are currently on bail with their case expected to resume on August 22, 2022.