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MRA implicated in K80m sugar deal
By
Aubrey Mchulu - 20-06-2002 |
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Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) officials have been implicated in a case where Blantyre-based businessman Henry Shaba is suspected to have evaded surtax duty amounting to K80 million on sugar meant for export but sold locally.
Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) director Gilton Chiwaula, whose institution seized some assets from Shaba, in a written questionnaire confirmed that some MRA officers were involved but refused to disclose the number and names, saying doing so would prejudice investigations.
He said the probe was at an advanced stage with a few border posts to be visited by ACB officers, adding the case would go to court soon.
“You will be acutely aware that documentation is very critical in this investigation, especially considering the alleged amounts involved and impact on the national economy,” said Chiwaula.
The sugar deal is the second multi-million kwacha case in which MRA officials have been implicated. They were also involved in a similar case last year in which cement meant for export was being sold locally.
Like sugar, export cement is exempted from surtax which the product meant for the local market attracts.
ACB Deputy Director and prosecutor Alexious Nampota told the Blantyre Senior Resident Magistrates’ Court in April this year that joint ACB and Malawi Police investigations established that Shaba, trading as Nuka Wholesalers, evaded surtax duty estimated at over K80 million within 12 months.
The records, according to Nampota’s affidavit, further state that it was believed more Customs duties were evaded by the suspect in the past two years.
Shaba was allegedly buying sugar meant for export and repacked it in one kilogramme packets of ‘Malawi Sugar’ which was sold on the local market.
Nampota said MRA documents, which have since been seized, “falsely evidenced that the sugar that was repacked and sold locally was exported to countries beyond Malawi.”
He said the investigation into the deal was “massive because of the extensive nature of evidence being gathered,” and that the probe would also go to Customs border posts at Mwanza, Muloza in Mulanje, Marka and Nyathendo in Nsanje, Nayuchi in Machinga, Chipande in Mangochi, Mchinji, Nkhata Bay and Songwe on the Malawi-Tanzania border in Karonga to examine a number of witnesses.
The ACB obtained a warrant of seizure on January 21, 2002 and impounded 660 bales of Malawi white sugar, 124 bales of Malawi brown sugar, seven sealing machines, 20 kg and 50 kg empty sacks of Illovo sugar, basins/cups used for packing, 1 kg empty packets of sugar and empty packing bales.
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