Fiscal Police in Blantyre have arrested a Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) officer and a tax agent in connection with a suspected fraudulent commercial property transfer involving businessman Abdul Karim Batatawala, according to Nyasa Times. An arrest warrant has been issued for Batatawala after he failed to appear for questioning regarding allegations of forgery, uttering false documents, and money laundering. Authorities are also actively searching for several other individuals linked to the disputed property.
In parliament, Dowa East Member of Parliament Richard Chimwendo Banda demanded increased government funding for the Malawi Police Service. He warned that dilapidated stations and inadequate housing negatively affect national security plans, Nyasa Times reports. The appeal followed a report presented by Gilbert Khonyongwa, chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs, which highlighted staff shortages and the poor state of police infrastructure built decades ago.
Update: Following the High Court's recent decision to block the dismissal of corruption charges against convicted Chinese wildlife trafficker Lin Yunhua, a coalition of civil society organizations has urged Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Fostino Maele to recuse himself from the proceedings. According to Nyasa Times and the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation, the environmental groups noted that Maele served as Yunhua's legal counsel prior to taking public office in 2025. Activists argue that his continued involvement raises conflict of interest concerns and risks affecting public trust in the country's justice system.