The Lilongwe Chief Resident Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 28th February 2022 sentenced Philbert Mkandawire, former managing director of Mahembe Civil Engineering to 14 years imprisonment with hard labor in relation to cash gate.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau ( ACB) has confirmed the development through a statement released today, 1st March 2022 signed by Egrita M. Ndala, principal public relations officer of the Bureau.

According to the statement, on 10th February 2014, Mr. Mkandawire was arrested by ACB in relation to cash gate investigation as he was suspected to have obtained K56,247,996.14 from the Ministry of Water Development and Irrigation for services that were not rendered.

“He was taken to Lilongwe Magistrate’s Court and charged with two counts of money laundering contrary to Section 35(C) of the Money Laundering, Proceeds of Crime and Terrorist Financing Act and one count of theft contrary to section 278 of the penal code,” the statement said.

On 22nd October 2021, the Lilongwe Chief Resident Magistrate’s Court found Philbert Mkandawire guilty of all the charges and convicted him.

February 28th, 2022 the court sentenced Philbert Mkandawire to three years, five years, and six years imprisonment on each of the three counts respectively, making a total of fourteen years and the sentences will run consecutively from the date of conviction.