The Chief Resident Magistrate’s court in Lilongwe has granted bail to former Solicitor General Reyneck Matemba.

Matemba, who is also former boss for the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), was arrested by the Bureau earlier today on a suspicion that he corruptly received $10, 000 from Managing Director of Xaviar Limited, Zuneth Sattar as an advantage for the vetting process of a food rations contract.

Said ACB in a statement: “The arrest is in relation to the vetting of the said contract of procurement, contract reference number MPS/SB/16/04/2021, to supply 350,000 food ration packs worth $7.8 million.

The investigations conducted by the Bureau established that Mr. Reyneck Matemba corruptly received $10,000 as an advantage for the vetting process of the food rations contract.”

According to ACB’s Senior Legal and Prosecutions Officer, Matemba was brought to court to be informed the reason of his arrest.

He has since been charged with a count of corrupt use of official powers contrary to Section 25 (1) of the Corrupt Practices Act.

Delivering her bail ruling, Chief Resident Magistrate Madalitso Khoswe Chimwaza ordered Matemba to pay K500, 000 cash-bond, produce two traceable and reliable sureties bonded at K2 million non-cash each, report to ACB offices once every fortnight and surrender travelling documents.

Meanwhile, the matter has been adjourned to a letter date pending consent by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).