Amarillys Hotel scandal: K5 bn withdraws captured on CCTV

…. senior DPP official withdrew it

…provided Police escort

Security camera footage from a National Bank branch has exposed what appears to be a highly coordinated and suspicious cash withdrawals involving billions of kwacha from the controversial Amarillys Hotel sale, The Investigator Magazine can reveal.

According to sources familiar with the matter, a senior official linked to the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), despite holding no formal position in government, was captured on CCTV collecting approximately a total of K5 billion in cash. The funds were reportedly packed into cartons and removed from the bank under the escort of nearly 15 police officers.

The official is said to have informed bank staff in advance that the withdrawal was intended for State House, a claim that reportedly facilitated the release of the funds without further scrutiny. However, insiders allege that the money never reached its stated destination.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) released a statement this week saying it had opened  an investigations docket that includes the K5.7 billion withdrawn between January end to mid-March when investigations were already underway.

Names have been floating on social media, but from credible sources the circle that received the questionable funds is limited. K72 billion is frozen whilst the remaining K18 billion was paid to several firms, and the highest cash withdraw of K5.7 billion was to the official.

Authorities at the highest level have been alerted. President Peter Mutharika is understood to have been briefed on the developments, while parallel investigations led by the Malawi Police Service, specifically its Fiscal Police unit, are said to be at an advanced stage. Investigators are expected to rely heavily on the bank’s CCTV footage as part of their case.

Police sources claim those affected sought Police protection when they approached the court fearing public backlash if they got an order to unfreeze their accounts. They lost the application.

Sources indicate that potential arrests may include high-profile figures such as former Secretary to the President and Cabinet Colleen Zamba, as well as Public Pension Fund Trust (PPFT) Chair Chizaso Nyirongo and several other board members.

“The evidence is clear,” said our source who has seen the footage. “He arrived with police officers, collected the funds in boxes, and left. He had called ahead to say it was for State House. Banks do not question transactions tied to State House. The real question is how he secured a police escort.”

Further allegations suggest that portions of the funds were offered to Attorney General Frank Mbeta, accompanied by a pre-drafted letter for authorisation. However, the Attorney General reportedly declined to sign the document and escalated the matter internally to his boss.

“If the Attorney General received anything indirectly, he may withstand scrutiny because he reported the incident,” the source added. “What is clear is that individuals were invoking the President’s name to legitimise these actions. This official has no government role but was once closely associated with senior party figures and appears to be leveraging that connection to broker deals.”

The source further claimed to possess a copy of the CCTV footage, which was shown to The Investigator. They indicated a willingness to release the material publicly should the forthcoming parliamentary report fail to identify those implicated. It is also alleged that the Financial Intelligence Authority has already presented similar evidence to a parliamentary committee.

“Every Member of Parliament on that committee has a complete list of beneficiaries from that account,” another source said. “For the sake of credibility, both of the committee and the country, they must disclose everything. Anything less will not be acceptable.”

Parliament is expected to rise this Friday, and the committee’s report, reportedly finalised nearly a week ago, is being closely watched by a public eager for answers.

The Investigator Magazine will publish further findings following the report’s release, particularly if key details are omitted.