Malawi banker arrested and accused of bribing judges

A banker from Malawi has been arrested as part of an investigation into the alleged bribing of judges who were hearing a challenge to last year’s presidential election. 

FDH bank executive Thomson Mpinganjira was arrested on Wednesday night and had his statement taken by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). He was later released after his lawyers secured a court order that revoked his arrest warrant. 

Mr Mpinganjira has not commented on the case.

The arrest comes after Malawi’s Chief Justice Andrew Nyirenda asked the ACB to investigate bribery attempts earlier this month. 

The case challenging President Peter Mutharika’s May election win was filed by the candidates who came second and third. 

President Mutharika won the election with 1,940,709 votes, closely followed the MCP’s Lazarus Chakwera with 1,781,740, and former Vice-President Saulos Chilima, with 1,018,369 votes.

Photo credit: AFP | Amos Gumulira