Maravi

ACC seizes cars, property from ‘rich’ govt worker

ACC seizes cars, property from ‘rich’ govt worker
Written by Masuzyo Chakwe
Thursday, May 14, 2009 4:11:43 PM

THE Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) is investigating former Ministry of Health human resource manager Henry Kapoko for alleged corruption, theft and fraud. The ACC has also seized and restricted property in excess of K3 billion belonging to Kapoko who is now working at the Ministry of Local Government and Housing in a similar department.

Kapoko's lawyer Nicholas Chanda yesterday confirmed that preliminary investigations were being carried out on Kapoko even though he had not been charged.

Chanda said the ACC was carrying out preliminary investigations and ordinary statements had been taken from Kapoko.

"This was the normal procedure after which they will later call us if they intend to arrest him," Chanda said.

During a press briefing yesterday, ACC public relations manager Timothy Moono said they had unearthed a corruption scam in which over K10 billion government funds were suspected to have been corruptly obtained from the Ministry of Health.

Moono disclosed that ACC had so far seized and restricted property from a former Ministry of Health official he did not name in excess of K3 billion in connection with the suspected corrupt practices.

Moono said among the seized high value vehicles include a Hummer H3, an X5 BMW, two Mercedes Benz cars, two Lexus cars, a 30 tonne Nissan UDI Tipper truck, one Mitsubishi challenger, one Ford Ranger and one Mazda Pickup van among others, all valued at about K1.3 billion.

He said the vehicles seized from various people were all pointing to the same person.

Moono said although no arrests had been made, investigations were advanced.

"The Hammer and the Ford Ranger were discovered not to have any proper documentation so we have applied to have them gazetted," he said.

He also said an executive lodge in Roma - Best Home Lodge - and a house in Olympia residential area had also been placed under a restriction order following the investigations.

Moono said another lodge in the same area was still under construction by the same government official and had also been put on restriction.

Moono said it was believed that the scam was perpetuated by the same ministry official who was still a public officer at the Ministry of Local Government and Housing.

After the briefing, the journalists were taken to view the 12 seized vehicles right at the ACC offices and thereafter toured Best Home Lodge and the other lodge, which is still under construction.

At Best Home Lodge, business was going on normally with rooms which have been built with exquisite material going for as much as K500,000 per night.

At the site of the other lodge, construction works were still going on.

One of the workers at the site said building goes on daily.

And Moono said ACC on Monday interviewed former clerk of the National Assembly Mwelwa Chibesakunda in relation to transactions that happened while he was still clerk of the National Assembly.

Moono said Chibesakunda was called to investigate and clarify some issues and that it was an on-going process.

Labels: ACC, HENRY KAPOKO, MINISTRY OF HEALTH

posted by MrK @ 3:14 PM