Africa-Press – Zambia. Former Ministry of Defence Permanent Secretary Stardy Mwale has been arrested by the Anti-Corruption Commission for corrupt practices involving more than 573.9 million United States Dollars in connection to the procurement of the Gulfstream G650 Presidential Jet.
Mwale, 51, of Flat 21 Eureka Park in Makeni, has been charged with three counts of Wilful Failure to Comply with Applicable Law and Procedure contrary to Section 34 (2) (b) and one count of Fraudulent Facilitation of Payment from the Public Revenue Contrary to Section 34 (2) (a)(i) of the Anti-Corruption Act No.3 Of 2012.
The Anti-Corruption Commission Head-Corporate Communications Timothy Moono disclosed in a statement that investigations have established that Stardy Mwale, whilst acting together with others, between the 1st January, 2017 and 31st December, 2017, being Permanent Secretary and the Chairperson of the Ministerial Procurement Committee for the Ministry of Defence, did wilfully fail to comply with the applicable law and procedure in the manner he approved the award of the tender number MOD/MPC/024-17 and signed the amendment of contract number MOD/MPC/024-17 relating to the procurement of the Modernisation of the Defence forces Program at a contract price of US$ 400,000,000.00 to Elbit Systems Limited without approval from the Ministry Procurement Committee.
Mr Moono further disclosed that investigations have also established that Stardy Mwale, whilst acting together with others, between the 1st January, 2019 and 31st December, 2019, being Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, did wilfully fail to comply with the applicable law and procedure in the manner he signed a novation of the contract number MOD/MPC/002-19 between Elbit Systems Limited and Ministry of Defence to Savenda Systems Limited at a contract price of US$ 123,965,000.00.
“Investigations have further established that Stardy Mwale, whilst acting together with others, between the 1st April, 2017 and 31st December, 2019, being Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, did fraudulently facilitate a payment of US$ 50,000,000 under the contract number MOD/MPC/024-17 to Elbit Systems Limited for goods and services not supplied in full,” Mr Moono disclosed
He mentioned that the Commission has also arrested and jointly charged members of the Ministerial Procurement Committee for the Ministry of Defence with Stardy Mwale for Wilful Failure to Comply with Applicable Law and Procedure contrary to Section 34 (2) (b) of the Anti-Corruption Act No.3 of 2012, in the manner they approved the award of the tender number MOD/MPC/024-17 for the procurement of the Modernisation of the Defence forces Program to Elbit Systems Limited at a contract price of US$ 400,000,000.00.
“Those arrested and charged are former Defence Secretary Rtd. Brigadier General Michael Obister Mbewe, Former Ministry of Defence Director General Medical Services Rtd. Brigadier General Frank Hardy Sinyangwe and Director-Finance at Ministry of Green Economy and Environment Esabel Willima Chinji who was the Acting Chief Accountant at Ministry of defence,” he mentioned
Meanwhile, in another development, Mr Moono noted that the Commission has also arrested and charged Stardy Mwale with one count of Corrupt Acquisition of Public Property and Revenue contrary to Section 34 (1)(b) of the Anti-Corruption Act No.3 Of 2012.
He highlighted that details are that Stardy Mwale, jointly and whilst acting together with others, on dates between the 1st April 2019 and 31st October 2019, being Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defence, did fraudulently or unlawfully divert 65,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer belonging to the government of the Republic of Zambia to a private entity. A matter or transaction that concerned the Ministry of Defence, a public body.
“Mr. Mwale and three others have since been released on bond and are expected to appear in court soon,” Mr Moono stated
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