ACB RESTRICTS MINISTRY OF LANDS, HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT FROM DEALING WITH PROPERTIES

MALAWI: The country’s graft-busting body, Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), has issued a restraining order restricting the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development from dealing with properties suspected to belonging to Zuneth Sattar.

Reads the statement on the matter, in part: “Pursuant to its powers under Section 23 (1) of the Corrupt Practices Act, on 23rd December 2021, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) issued a restriction notice to the Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development from dealing with the following properties in which it is believed that Zuneth Sattar has beneficial interest.”

The statement then goes to list eighty-six (86) properties that are suspected to belong to Sattar.

In the statement, Egrita Ndala, ACB Principal Public Relations Officer, says:” The Restriction Notice has been issued as part of investigations by the Bureau following allegations that Zuneth Sattar and his agent Ashok Kumar SREEDHARAN aka Ashok Nair have been giving bribes to Politically Exposed Persons with the aim of influencing various Malawi Government Departments to corruptly award contracts to companies belonging to Zuneth Sattar.”

According to Ndala, following the restriction notice, “the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development is restricted from dealing with the properties outlined above until the ACB has concluded the investigations or lifted the restriction notices.”

Sattar is suspected of corrupt dealings with the Malawi government.