The High Court Financial Crimes Division has sentenced former National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) Deputy Chief Executive Officer Gerald Viola and Chrispin Chingola to 2 years imprisonment, overturning an earlier ruling of three-year suspended sentences.
In March 2022, Viola was convicted of abuse of office contrary to Section 25B (1) of the Corrupt Practices Act while Chingola was convicted for influencing a public officer to misuse a public office contrary to Section 25B (2) of the Corrupt Practices Act (CPA).
Judge Anneline Kanthambi observed the two committed a felony offence which is not a lesser case hence overturning the lower court’s judgement.
Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Senior Legal and Prosecution Officer, Ellen Chandilanga, told MBC that the bureau was not satisfied with the lower court’s ruling hence the decision to appeal against three-year suspended sentences last year.
Chandilanga said this is a win for Malawi as it will send a strong message to would be offenders.
According to the ACB, the sentence is with effect from 26 March 2024, which is the day of ruling.
Viola and Chingola were arrested in October 2020 following allegations that they unilaterally issued a K3.3 billion Local Purchasing Order (LPO) to Missie’s Trading to supply 10 000 metric tonnes of maize to the organisation.