|
|
|
|
| National |
| Escom’s Padambo goes back to work |
|
by
Mc Donald Chapalapata, 12 October 2004
-
10:12:03
|
Escom’s director of finance Kandi Padambo, facing abuse of public office and negligence by servant charges, goes back to the office this week following a board resolution last week.
But the development has not gone down well with the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Ishmael Wadi who described the board’s decision as “awkward”.
“That is an awkward decision by the Escom board. They should have waited until the matter has been concluded in a court of law,” said Wadi.
He said he would be meeting with ACB director Gustave Kaliwo to discuss the matter and how they can prosecute it promptly.
Padambo was arrested on September 14 by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and has not been reporting for work since. He is currently on bail.
Close sources to the board said the board of directors of Escom met on Friday in Lilongwe where they decided that Padambo should start reporting for duties.
“He has not been found guilty and the board felt there is nothing wrong if he goes back to work. He is deemed innocent until proven guilty by the courts of law,” said the source.
The source also said the board sought an independent legal opinion from Wilson & Morgan law firm on the matter who advised the board that Padambo could go back to work.
The source also said the previous board discussed the same issues that Padambo is being charged on and the matter was resolved amicably.
Escom board chairperson Agrinna Mussa said the board sought an independent legal opinion on the matter which was being discussed in Lilongwe on Friday.
She referred The Nation to Escom Chief Executive Officer Allexon Chiwaya for comments on the matter.
Chiwaya confirmed that the board decided that Padambo should start work again this week.
“The board sought a legal opinion on the matter and it was decided that Mr. Padambo should start work again. He has not been reinstated because he was not on suspension in the first place,” said Chiwaya.
Chiwaya declined to comment further, saying doing so would “prejudice the case which is currently in court”.
The Lilongwe Magistrate’s Court heard when Padambo was granted bail that between June 3,1999 and June 9,2000 Padambo is said to have abused his office when he directed the payroll officer to pay him retirement benefits in excess of his entitlement, a charge which is contrary to section 95 of the penal code.
The court further heard that Padambo is said to have received or had under his control K1.7 million between 1995 and 1999 in his capacity as director of finance and as a result of gross negligence or recklessness, the said K1.7 million was lost, stolen or cannot be accounted for.
The maximum sentence for the charges Padambo is facing is 12 years imprisonment.
Wadi said Padambo would be taken to court in Blantyre within this week.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
