A former Malawian education official has been jailed for two years over the biggest corruption scandal under the former government of Bakili Muluzi, BBC Online reports Friday.
Two building contractors who profited from the scandal and a government quantity surveyor were also jailed.
The 187m kwacha (12 mio. DKR) scandal broke in 1999, before Mr Muluzi was elected to a second and final five-year term. Several politicians of the then ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) were awarded school building contracts.
Judge Richard Chinangwa convicted and sentenced former Secretary for Education Sam Safuli to two years imprisonment with hard labour for facilitating payment of 100,000 Malawi kwacha (750 US dollar) to contractors Hendrick and Esther Kathumba for an uncompleted school block.
Hendrick Kathumba was sentenced to two years imprisonment with hard labour, and Esther Kathumba to four years prison for defrauding government.
– Your action deprived hundreds of under-privileged Malawian youths of a decent learning environment, Judge Chinanangwa said as he passed the sentences in packed room at the High Court in Lilongwe.
Most children in government primary schools in Malawi learn under trees for lack of classroom space, BBC adds.
