On 12th March 2024, the Anti-Corruption Bureau arrested Von Martin Banda, a Police officer who was based at Chilumba Police Unit and now in Mzuzu and Eliya Mwafulirwa, Village Headman Makwambo in Karonga. This followed investigations into an allegation that Eliya Mwafulirwa and Von Martin Banda had conspired to receive two bulls to facilitate the release of Dickson Nyondo from Police custody and discontinuance of the case of malicious damage he was arrested for.
The investigation established that Mr. Eliya Mwafulirwa had solicited and received two bulls from Mr Moses Nyondo to facilitate the release of his son Dickson Nyondo on police bail and discontinuance of a criminal case which Dickson was answering. It was also found that Eliya Mwafulirwa gave Von Martin Banda MK50,000.00 to release Dickson Nyondo on police bail. Von Martin Banda also received MK30,000.00 to release Washington Mwafulirwa, Stocker Mwafulirwa and Nelson Kalua on police bail in relation to the same matter which Dickson Nyondo was arrested for.
Eliya Mwafulirwa will be charged with corrupt practices with a public officer contrary to Section 24 (2) of the Corrupt Practices Act. Von Martin Banda will be charged with corrupt practices by a public officer and abuse of public office contrary to Section 24 (1) as read with Section 34 and Section 25B (1) of the Corrupt Practices Act. They will be taken to Court in due course.
The Bureau is calling on all public officers to desist from demanding payment from members of the public for services which are supposed to be offered for free.
Resist, Reject and Report Corruption!
EGRITA M. NDALA
PRINCIPAL PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
FOR: DIRECTOR GENERAL
