Former Malawi president Muluzi charged with corruption
Former Malawian president Bakili Muluzi has been charged with 42 counts of graft, theft and breach of trust after his arrest for allegedly siphoning off 12 million dollars (9.5 million euros) of aid funds.
"The alleged counts relate to monies received from foreign governments as aid to Malawi which was used for personal purposes," Gustave Kaliwo, head of the country's anti-corruption bureau told journalists after grilling Muluzi.
Kaliwo said Muluzi had "denied all the charges" of spiriting away money given by the governments of Taiwan, Libya, Morocco and Rwanda and stealing government funds.
Muluzi, who was head of state from 1994 to 2004, is the topmost figure to figure in a sweeping anti-graft campaign launched by President Bingu wa Mutharika, his successor and now estranged protege.
Mutharika, who has faced ouster moves after breaking away from Muluzi's party to form his own party last year, has blamed his woes partly on his tough stance against corruption, rampant during the 10-year Muluzi era which ended in 2004.
Muluzi is accused of channelling the 12 million dollars (9.5 million euros) of donor funds into his private bank account between April 1999 and November 2004.
Anti-corruption bureau chief Kaliwo said two of the counts related to 50,000 dollars the Malawi government sent to its embassy in Tanzania, which was allegedly pocketed by Muluzi when he visited the country.
"Muluzi said he understood all the counts but he chose to invoke his constitutional right to remain silent when the charge sheet was read to him," Kawilo added.
Muluzi has been granted bail until his trial "starts in due course," said Kaliwo.
Muluzi was cheered by scores of supporters as he drove out.
The former president remains popular and holds the influential position of party chairman of the now-opposition United Democratic Fund.
AFP
