On 8th April, 2020, the Anti- Corruption Bureau (ACB) received an allegation that Gerald Viola, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer for National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA), single handedly awarded a contract to a Lilongwe based company called Missie’s Trading owned by Chrispin Chingola to supply 10,000 metric tonnes of maize worth MK3.3 billion without following procurement procedures. It is further alleged that later on, Mr. Viola demanded 10% of the total contract sum translating to MK330,000,000.00. Mr. Gerald Viola was arrested by ACB on 2nd October, 2020.
The ACB investigations established that Chrispin Chingola conspired with Gerald Viola to commit offences under the Corrupt Practices Act, Public Finance Management Act, Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Act and the Penal Code.
On 3rd November, 2020, the ACB arrested Chrispin Chingola. He is likely to be charged with influencing a public officer to misuse a public office contrary to Section 25 B (2) of the Corrupt Practices Act and forgery contrary to Section 356 of the Penal Code.
He will be taken to court after the ACB has interviewed him.
EGRITA M. NDALA`
PRINCIPAL PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
FOR: DIRECTOR GENERAL
