The Malawi Police Service has arrested two senior officials from the National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA) in connection with an alleged fraudulent transfer of US$403,615.63. The two have been identified as NOCMA Deputy Chief Executive Officer Miklas Reuben, 54, and Senior Operations Manager Thokozani Jacob Sesani, 49. Police say the two are suspected of […]
The Malawi Police Service has arrested two senior officials from the National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA) in connection with an alleged fraudulent transfer of US$403,615.63.
The two have been identified as NOCMA Deputy Chief Executive Officer Miklas Reuben, 54, and Senior Operations Manager Thokozani Jacob Sesani, 49.
Police say the two are suspected of negligence by a public officer in preserving money and misuse of public office, among other related offences.
According to police, the money was transferred to an account belonging to Moniray Mozhandlings Ltd to facilitate fuel loading and clearing charges at the ports of Beira and Nacala in Mozambique.
The arrests follow reports of a payment linked to fuel vessel processing services that raised concerns over possible cyber-enabled fraud at NOCMA.
NOCMA Public Relations Officer Raymond Likambale had earlier dismissed claims that the government had lost money, saying the recipient bank had confirmed receipt of the funds.
Likambale told MIJ Online that the payment was for services rendered by Mozhandling in processing the MT Flora, a vessel that transported 15.1 million litres of government-to-government fuel through the Port of Nacala.
The Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) had earlier called for the immediate suspension of NOCMA officials involved in verifying, approving and processing the payment.
HRDC said the matter raised serious questions about NOCMA’s internal controls and mechanisms for protecting public funds.
The organisation called for an independent investigation to establish whether negligence, procedural breaches or other internal failures contributed to the alleged loss, alongside efforts to identify and prosecute external suspects.
Police say Reuben hails from Kabera Village under Traditional Authority Makwangwala in Ntcheu, while Sesani is from Kathongera Village under Traditional Authority Chulu in Kasungu.
The two are expected to appear in court as investigations continue.
