A case in which Malawi’s former deputy ambassador in Ethiopia, Doreen Kapanga, and former first secretary for administration and finance, Fletcher Chowe, are accused of siphoning US$406,246.15 (approximately K294 million) has stalled as police are waiting for a document which they sought from a bank in Ethiopia.
Kapanga and Chowe were suspended and recalled from the mission in the wake of an investigation into financial transactions at the embassy instituted after the mission’s Ambassador, Chimango Chirwa, had reported an attempted fraud by members of staff at the mission.
Back home, they were arrested and later granted bail on May 26 after appearing before Lilongwe Chief Resident Magistrate, Ruth Chinangwa, who imposed conditions including that they should not dispose of their property until the case ends.
In an interview on Tuesday, National Police Public Relations Officer (PRO), Nicholas Gondwa, said the police are concentrating on the two suspects.
“In that regard our Fiscal Police officials went to Ethiopia to investigate the matter further, particularly bank transactions involving the fraud. So what we are waiting for now is a certain bank document from Ethiopia which we believe will help in shaping the case. But what I can say is that we have finished our investigations,” said Gondwa.
He further disclosed that the police are waiting for instructions from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) where the case file was submitted.
In an earlier interview, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation PRO, Rejoice Shumba, said the ministry was also eagerly waiting for how the investigations were progressing, having handed over the matter to the law enforcers.
“As the Minister said, this is a matter of theft. What we can do is to wait for what the investigation and prosecution agencies will do. So we are also equally curious,” Shumba said.
During a press briefing where he disclosed the latest fraud amount, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Francis Kasaila, said a report into the racket showed there had been “systematic and merciless plunder of public resources at the Addis Ababa mission from 2013”.
Kasaila said the stolen funds have to be returned to government by those implicated in the fraud, adding that is why the matter has been reported to the police and the Chief Secretary to the government.
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