The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has issued an order restricting Abdul Karim Batatawala, Fletcher Nyirenda and Limbani Chawinga from disposing of, or dealing with, listed properties and vehicles connected to a probe the bureau is undertaking.
Businessman Batatawala, Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services former commissioner for operations Nyirenda and deputy director Chawinga are answering charges bordering on corruption and money laundering.
A statement issued Monday, signed by the bureau’s principal public relations officer Egrita Ndala, indicates that the restriction is in line with Section 23(1) of the Corrupt Practices Act.
“The restriction notices have been issued as part of various investigations by the bureau following allegations of unexplained wealth and other corrupt practices against these individuals. Following the restriction notices, Abdul Karim Batatawala, Limbani Chawinga and Fletcher Nyirenda are restricted from dealing with the properties and vehicles outlined above until the ACB has concluded the investigations or lifted the restriction notices,” the statement reads.
On March 25 2022, the bureau issued restriction notices to Batatawala, Nyirenda and Chawinga, stopping them from disposing of, and generally dealing with, some properties and vehicles.
According to the restriction order, some of Batatawala’s listed plots include title numbers Blantyre West 145 and 146 plot number BW 588 and BW 599 (Pamodzi Settlement Trust), Title Number Blantyre West 2/229 Plot Number BW 1164 (Abdul Karim Batatawala t/a African Commercial Agency), Title number Blantyre Central 818 and 819 (Pamodzi Settlement Trust) d. Title number Ndirande 480 plot number NW278 (Pamodzi Settlement Trust).
The bureau has also stopped Nyirenda from, among other things, disposing of several vehicles as well as plots, land and houses in Blantyre and Mzuzu while Chawinga has been stopped from disposing of several plots in Blantyre, Lilongwe and Mzuzu, among them vehicles.
According to the ACB, the three are restricted from dealing with the properties and vehicles until the bureau has concluded the investigations or lifted the restriction notices
