ACB Director Alex Nampota arrested

Police on Thursday arrested Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) director Alexious Nampota on allegations he abused office and did not refund money he took for a foreign trip.

Nampota confirmed the development in an interview with the media last evening but challenged the basis of the allegation, arguing there are appropriate mechanisms of dealing with the allegations. He was released on bail

Police accused Nampota of pocketing allowances for a trip that he never made.

But Nampota says he did go on the trip, at a later time.

“I went to a course overseas but before that I had already pocketed allowances and failed to go to the course at first due to travel ban imposed by the then regime,” he said.

The ACB chief described the arrest as victimisation by the ruling People’s Party government.

Incidentally, Nampota further claimed the arrest was because the graft busting body is probing high profile cases involving top officials. He did not reveal who these were, though during his time at the ACB he has failed to bring to book any top official despite numerous corruption cases involving the DPP and business associates.

He also said the procedure of his arrest was flouted.