Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06LILONGWE166
2006-02-16 17:26:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Lilongwe
Cable title:
FORMER EDUCATION MINISTER TO SERVE 5 YEARS
how-toVZCZCXRO9765 RR RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR DE RUEHLG #0166 0471726 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 161726Z FEB 06 FM AMEMBASSY LILONGWE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2396 INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
UNCLAS LILONGWE 000166
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/S GABRIELLE MALLORY
STATE FOR INR/AA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV, KDEM, MI
SUBJ: FORMER EDUCATION MINISTER TO SERVE 5 YEARS
REF: LILONGWE 118
UNCLAS LILONGWE 000166
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/S GABRIELLE MALLORY
STATE FOR INR/AA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV, KDEM, MI
SUBJ: FORMER EDUCATION MINISTER TO SERVE 5 YEARS
REF: LILONGWE 118
1. (U) Former Minister of Education Yussuf Mwawa, who was
convicted on four counts of corruption last week, will
spend 5 years in hard labor. The judge in the case
announced that he wanted to make an example of Mwawa, who
used government money to pay for his wedding.
2. (SBU) As reported in reftel, Mwawa had been convicted of
abuse of public office, simple theft, forgery and authoring
a false document on February 9. After a short delay due to
Mwawa's hospitalization (for alleged high blood pressure
and diabetes),Mwawa was sentenced to just over 12 years in
hard labor for the four crimes. However, as he will be
serving the sentences concurrently, he will spend a total
of 5 years in prison. Though Mwawa has said he will appeal
the ruling, his prison sentence will begin immediately.
3. (SBU) Comment: The fact that Mwawa will spend a good
amount of time behind bars is an encouraging sign for
Malawi's anti-corruption drive. The ACB must also be hoping
that the severity of the sentence (considering that the
value of Mwawa's fraud was a mere $1500) will serve as a
precedent when they go after bigger fish, such as former
President Bakili Muluzi.
CLOUD
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/S GABRIELLE MALLORY
STATE FOR INR/AA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV, KDEM, MI
SUBJ: FORMER EDUCATION MINISTER TO SERVE 5 YEARS
REF: LILONGWE 118
1. (U) Former Minister of Education Yussuf Mwawa, who was
convicted on four counts of corruption last week, will
spend 5 years in hard labor. The judge in the case
announced that he wanted to make an example of Mwawa, who
used government money to pay for his wedding.
2. (SBU) As reported in reftel, Mwawa had been convicted of
abuse of public office, simple theft, forgery and authoring
a false document on February 9. After a short delay due to
Mwawa's hospitalization (for alleged high blood pressure
and diabetes),Mwawa was sentenced to just over 12 years in
hard labor for the four crimes. However, as he will be
serving the sentences concurrently, he will spend a total
of 5 years in prison. Though Mwawa has said he will appeal
the ruling, his prison sentence will begin immediately.
3. (SBU) Comment: The fact that Mwawa will spend a good
amount of time behind bars is an encouraging sign for
Malawi's anti-corruption drive. The ACB must also be hoping
that the severity of the sentence (considering that the
value of Mwawa's fraud was a mere $1500) will serve as a
precedent when they go after bigger fish, such as former
President Bakili Muluzi.
CLOUD