/ 13 July 1999

MALAWI FOREX SCAM

A FOREIGN exchange dealer in Malawi’s commercial capital of Blantyre has been arrested on corruption charges on Thursday after he allegedly abused exchange controls to smuggle $2-million out of the country. Malawi Anti-Corruption director, Gilton Chiwaula, said on Thursday that Akta Hamid was arrested for allegedly funnelling over 66-million Malawi Kwacha out of Malawi. Hamid runs his own foreign exchange bureau. Chiwaula said the abuse appears to have begun late last year and may involve far larger amounts than those confirmed on Thursday. Chiwaula declined to comment on reports that Hamid belonged to a syndicate and was the first arrest in a planned national crackdown.