A local civil society anti corruption network has commended the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) for taking to court a businessman suspected of massive corruption in Malawi, but the grouping says it wants Malawi authorities to also act arguing “justice for the Malawian people cannot be outsourced.”
Late last month, the NCA indicted businessman Zuneth Sattar on 18 counts of bribery under the UK Bribery Act. Zattar has numerous dealings with the Malawi government, particularly the Malawi Army and the Malawi Police where he is accused of high level corruption.
Several high profile Malawians were sanctioned by the Malawi Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) for their dealing with Sattar, but one case was discontinued by the Malawi Director of Public Prosecutions while the other cases have since stalled.
Last year, ACB unfroze Sattar accounts because investigations revealed that they were not used for payments from the Malawi Government.
The National Anti-Corruption Alliance (NACA) has said it welcomes “with profound relief” the indictment of Mr Sattar in the UK saying, “the development marks a historic step forward in the fight against grand corruption in Malawi.”
NACA said it now wants authorities in Malawi to play their part and go after Mr Sattar.
“We urge the Government of Malawi to immediately reinvigorate its stalled investigations, protect anti corruption champions and cooperate fully with UK prosecutors,” NACA said in a statement.
NACA is a Malawian civil society network dedicated to uniting and coordinating like-minded civil society organizations (CSOs) to actively support, influence, and advocate for a corruption-free Malawi, effective governance, and improved public service delivery.
Sattar, 44, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 16 charges, alleging that he bribed foreign officials between December 2020 and September 2021. Sattar also faces two charges under the U.K. Bribery Act 2010 related to his company Xaviar Ltd., according to prosecutors.
He did not indicate how he intended to plead to the charges.
District Judge Tan Ikram released Sattar, on conditional bail ahead of a further hearing in the case at Southwark Crown Court, which is expected to take place on June 26.
