The State Vice President Right Honourable Dr Saulos Klaus Chilima says he remain confident that any due process initiated to test the scurrilous allegations made against him would vindicate the hope that Malawians placed in him and looks forward to that occasion.
Through a statement released from his office Signed by Director of Communications Pilirani Phiri dated June 23rd, 2022 Chilima said he has taken note of the contents of a report submitted by the Anti-Corruption Bureau ( ACB) to the State President of the Republic of Malawi Dr Lazarus Chakwera as relayed in a national address made by the State President on Tuesday 21st June, 2022.
“The report apparently makes serious allegations of criminal conduct against the State Vice President although, as correctly observed by the State President in his address, the Report does not present any detail of the alleged criminal conduct,” read the statement.
According to the statement, the State Vice President finds the manner in which the Bureau has proceeded very troubling.
“The Bureau has in essence accused him of crime without providing any particulars or evidence in support of the crime,” it further revealed.
The statement added that the State Vice President finds it curious that, to date, the Bureau has not confronted him with the said allegations of criminal conduct so that he has the opportunity of making representations on the same.
“Instead, a prejudicial one sided public narrative has been sustained for months now which has incited public anger against the so called mentioned individuals who helplessly watch their lives being ruined as they wait for the opportunity to voice their side of the story,” it said.
Through the statement, Chilima highlighted that while the Bureau’s efforts to fight corruption deserve the unwavering support of all well-meaning Malawians, the fight must always be waged within the confines of the law.
“It must not be abused for political or other objectives, one requirement of the law is that every person must be presumed to be innocent until a competent court of law finds them guilty, and further that accusations of criminality should be made within the space of judicial proceedings,” He said through the statement.
He then said that he entered public service to serve the interests of Malawians, and that at no point has he ever been involved in any perverted or criminal scheme as suggested by the Bureau, or at all, nor has he ever deployed the office to which the people of Malawi entrusted him in aid of any perverted or criminal scheme.
Many times things done in the dark or in hidden corners, as long as they are against a certain rule or law, it eventually comes out in the open for the world to bear witness of those heinous acts.
It is believed that this Sattar shenanigans came to light a couple of years back. The NCA in the UK set aside its resources to unveil the criminality following money laundering acts perpetrated within their borders. Money Laundering crimes are taken seriously in developed countries mainly when it involves taxes. In the process of following the money, it was realised that the money was coming from Malawi. To cut a long story short, these security agents from developed countries will pounce on criminals after they have carriedout a thorough investigation to establish the crime, clear all grey areas and tie all the loose ends. When this was known and their ambush was sprung, all the above steps had been covered. For them to come up with names and amounts involved it should signify that nothing was left unturned. They will usually do that to avoid being sued for incriminating a person who is innocent. It will therefore be very doubtful to say those mentioned have wrongly been mentioned. If these guys are certain that they are innocent then the best they could do is to wait until such a time when court proceedings start or charges are circulated other than engaging in shadow boxing for no good reasons. Meanwhile as astitute and well meaningful citizens, the best they could do is to step aside and let those dealing with their cases do so without any hindrances. They should leave their offices and stay at home until such a time when things will start rolling. Whether this is a ‘Witch-hunt’ or whatever, at the end of everything the truth will come to the fore. Yeah!! Innocent till proven guilty in a court of law. As things stand just begin putting together the best “Legal representation”