ACB rejects Mutharika’s request to unfreeze bank account

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has rejected a request by former President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika to unfreeze his bank account.

ACB Director General, Reyneck Matemba confirmed of the development in an interview with Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS) saying the Bureau is still investigating him on Cement gate issue and it may only consider him to make small withdraws for general living expenses which the law permits.

In August this year ACB frozen bank accounts of former president Peter Mutharika, his wife Getrude Mutharika, former Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) Deputy Director General Roza Mbilizi, and Mutharika’s top security aide Norman Chisale.

The development followed their involvement in connection on the importation of duty free 400,000 bags of cement worth K5 billion from Zambia and Zimbabwe.

“We have frozen two Mutharika accounts; one that is solely owned by the former president and another, a joint account with his wife. One account for Chisale and three accounts for Roza Mbilizi at NBS Bank, National Bank and Standard Bank.

“The accounts have been frozen so that the bureau is able to finalise its investigations on the matter,” one of the sources from ACB was quoted by Daily Times of August 15, 2020.

Recently Mutharika told the press that he is struggling to make earns meat due to the stand taken by ACB to freeze his bank account.

He said he surviving because of of some well-wishers who are assisting him at the moment.

Mutharika is entangled in the cement saga where his personal bodyguard Chisale, former Chief of Staff for State Residences, Peter Mukhito and Lilongwe based businessman Ahmed Chunara were arrested on allegations that they imported about 1.2 million bags of cement using Mutharika’s Taxpayer Identification Number (TPIN).