Police in Mzimba have arrested a 28-year-old Assistant (Human Resources Manager HRM)for the district’s health office (DHO) for the offense of theft by servant.

Public Relations Officer for Mzimba Police Station Sub Inspector Peter Botha, has identified the suspect as Boyd Chipeta who is alleged to have embezzled 10.9 million Malawi Kwacha through dubious means where he was depositing the money through some Health Surveillance Assistants (HSAs) under Mzimba South District Health Office.

Chipeta is alleged to have been depositing salary arrears every month starting from November 2022 up to May 2023 when another member from Mmbelwa District Council discovered the anomaly.

According to information gathered by Police, the suspect, who is Assistant Human Resources Officer is suspected to have been creating deliberate arrears for some Health Surveillance Assistants (HSAs) which revealed that Chipeta was stealing government money by manipulating salaries of health workers.

The issue came to light on Friday, June 2 2023 as the team responsible for salaries at Mmbelwa District Concil was consolidating June salaries for the council. The team responsible for salaries were shocked after going through the May, 2023 payroll which alerted them that there is something fishy with government money.

When Chipeta (suspect) who is also a member of the team was approached on the matter to explain, he admitted to have done the transactions.

Chipeta was arrested by police and charged him with the offence of Theft by Public Servant.

Chipeta, processed the salary arrears to nine health workers at Mzimba South District Hospital for November 2022 to May 2023. The salary arrears were being deposited concurrently with their monthly salaries on their bank accounts.

He could claim back the money from these health workers after withdrawing from accounts.

The money embezzled is K10,986,583.64.
These salary arrears recipients were not the rightful beneficiaries of the arrears as this was the modus of swindling government money by the suspect.

The matter is still under investigations and the suspect will appear before court once the investigations are over.

Boyd Chipeta hails from Chamawoya Village in Traditional Authority Kambunduli in Nkhata Bay District.