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Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Ishmael Wadi said on Sunday his office is investigating circumstances under which some files missed from the office of Shire Buslines chief executive officer Humphrey Mvula on the night he was arrested by fiscal police.
Wadi said Police seized all the documents in his office when they arrested Mvula on Friday evening by locking his office.
“But we have information that a lady believed to be a secretary to Mvula went there between 2 and 3 AM using a duplicate key and took away some files. We are investigating this issue and this is crucial,” said Wadi.
He said the development will change his stand on the issue of bail, adding that he was prepared to enter into negotiations with Mvula’s attorneys for his bail tomorrow or Wednesday.
“Evidence has been tampered with and unless we recover that evidence, my position on bail has changed,” said Wadi.
But Mvula’s secretary Memory Mwasi said she never went to the office to remove any files, adding that the keys to the office are with Police.
“Police locked the office and we handed over all the keys we had and I have never gone there since then,” said Mwasi.
Mvula’s lawyer Meyer Chisanga said he would be applying for bail this morning at the High Court in Blantyre.
“I am ready with the documents for bail but state advocate offices are closed today being a weekend and there is no one to accept service. I will serve them tomorrow morning and ask for hearing in the afternoon,” said Chisanga yesterday.
He also said police are yet to record a statement from his client.
Wadi said he is still gathering information before he lays charges on Mvula.
“There is a file here for fraud, corruption and tax evasion. But we are still gathering information and until we get that information, I will see what charges to lay against him,” said Wadi.
He also disclosed that former Finance Minister Friday Jumbe is also being investigated, saying he had a company which was supplying goods to Shire Buslines.
“But we cannot act on Jumbe now until we record a statement from Mvula and see whether there was corruption in the way contracts for supplies were being awarded,” added Wadi.
The DPP denied that the arrest of Mvula is a political witch-hunt.
Wadi said there is political pressure to get Mvula released without any conditions “but I have told them that my office will work independent of any political influence”.
He denied to name the politicians who are pressing for the release of Mvula.
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