Sattar denies corruption allegations

The United Kingdom business expert, Zuneth Sattar has denied corruption allegations that he bribed government officials to be awarded government contracts in Malawi.

Speaking to Times in the United Kingdom, the 41-year-old man who is on bail and yet to be charged says he is ready to fight against the allegations.

“I am not corrupt. I am a good person. My fate is in God’s hands,” Sattar told the Times.

“I want to be charged so I can fight it and win,” he said.

Sattar adds that he is hated in Malawi and that the whole country has turned against him for among others allegedly inflating prices of drinks and other goods supplied to government.

The Times in UK reported that the Kungdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) had confiscated 19 properties as well as a Lamborghini and Bentley owned by Zuneth Sattar in a fraud and corruption investigation.

The publication also reported that the NCA has also obtained freezing orders against Sattar’s properties in Leicestershire and Greater Manchester.

According to the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in Malawi, between 2017 and 2021, Malawi Police Service and Malawi Defence Force awarded 16 contracts worth over US$150 million (over K150 billion) to five companies owned by Zuneth Sattar.

The items supplied include military vehicles to the Malawi Defence Force and food ration packs to the Malawi Police.

It is alleged that the businessperson bribed 53 public officers and 31 individuals in the private sector.

The Bureau found that beyond the 84 individuals who allegedly received money from Mr Sattar in 2021, his associate also kept a record of all the persons who allegedly received bribes from Mr Sattar from 2008 to 2020.

The President of Malawi striped off all the individuals who are allegedly reported to have benefited from Sattar’s bribes.

The Vice President, Dr Saulos Chilima denied the allegation and asserted to challenge it.