Doreen Kapanga out on bail: Ex Malawi deputy ambassador to Ethiopia charged with money laundering

Owen Khamula – Nyasa Times

Former deputy ambassador to Malawi’s Addis Ababa embassy in Ethiopia, Doreen Kapanga has been granted bail by the court in Lilongwe.

Kapanga was arrested along with a suspected accomplice, Fletcher Mada Chowe on Tuesday on allegations that they embezzled K300 million public money from the embassy.

Magistrate Ruth Chinangwa, among other things, ordered that the two to surrender their travel documents, deposit K1 million each with the court and should not leave Lilongwe without the consent of the court.

The Magistate dismissed a prayer from prosecutor Levison Mangani to keep holding the suspects in custody.

Kapanga was remanded at Lilongwe Police Station for two days, a station she supervised when she was deputy inspector general of police.

Former head of state Joyce Banda appointed her deputy ambassador.

The former deputy ambassador  is alleged to have stolen the K300 million within a period of 12 months in collaboration with other members of staff including those from the accounts department.

At least three officials from the embassy have been interdicted on allegations that they were blocking officials from the National Audit Office.

The government has recalled High Commissioner from Zambia Bandawe and Ambassador from Japan Reuben Ngwenya on allegations that they abused huge sums of tax payers money from their respective embassies.

The prosecuting agencies and the police are yet to arrest the two diplomats who are now back to Malawi.

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