In a twist of events, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Masauko Chamkakala, has dropped charges against businessmen Ahmed Mohammed Chunara and his son Muhmed Shafee Ahmed Chunara in the cementgate case.
The two alongside former State Residences director-general Peter Mukhito, former president Peter Mutharika’s former personal bodyguard Norman Chisale and Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) Deputy Commissioner- General Roza Mbilizi were being accused of playing a part in the importation of K5 billion worth of cement from Zambia and Zimbabwe between 2018 and 2020 using Mutharika’s Tpin.
Chamkakala told the Nation Online that one of the two will become a state witness.
He however, did not disclose the identity of the individual.
“They have admitted liability to the tax infractions and are paying the tax and penalties as prescribed under the relevant tax laws,” he said without mentioning the amount to be repaid
According to charge sheets, between November 2018 and December 2019, Mahmed Shafee Ahmed Chunara allegedly imported 1,250,770 bags of cement duty-free, claiming it was for Mutharika’s personal use.
