The High Court in Lilongwe on Thursday sentenced former Minister of Home Affairs, Uladi Mussa, to five years imprisonment for being found guilty of aiding foreigners to obtain Malawian passports.

Mussa, who is  the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Vice President for the Central Region, has also been given 12 months imprisonment for neglect of official duties.

The sentences, were passed by High court Judge, Chifundo Kachale, who is also the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Chairperson and will run concurrently.

The court also sentenced former central region immigration officer, David Kwanjana and Ugandan business man, Peter Katasha, to 5 years and 4 years in prison respectively for partaking in the passport deal.

Speaking to journalists after the sentence, Mussa said the judgment is unfair claiming he never benefitted a single coin from the passport deals.

Musa and Kwanjana were first arrested on March 6 2017 and were charged with neglect of official duty contrary to Section 121 of the Penal Code and abuse of public office contrary to Section 25b(1) of the Corrupt Practice Act.

Musa served as Minister of Homeland Affairs and Internal Security during the two-year tenure of President Dr. Joyce Banda between April 2012 and May 2014.