ACB to appeal against Chaponda’s maizegate ruling

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) says it will appeal against the Zomba Chief Resident Magistrate’s ruling of a case involving the former minister of Agriculture George Chaponda and his accomplice Rashid Tayub.

Chief Resident Magistrate Paul Chiotcha on May 18, 2018, found Chaponda not guilty of all three counts of giving false information to the Anti-Corruption Bureau, influencing a public officer to misuse his position and possession of foreign currency while Tayub was acquitted the charge of persuading a public officer to misuse his position.

ACB director general Reyneck Matemba told the press in Lilongwe that the bureau is not satisfied with the manner in which the lower court handled the case as there is evidence that Chaponda was found with unexplained huge sums of money in his house.

“We are going to appeal and ask interpretation from the High Court on the matter”, he said.

Matemba said the Bureau will appeal against offences of being found in possession of foreign currency and giving false information.