By Durell Namasani
Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has arrested Alexander Maseko, the former Head of Permits at the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services, for allegedly issuing a temporary work permit to a foreign national without collecting the mandatory US$2,000 fee.
Maseko was taken into custody on June 4 and appeared before the Chief Resident Magistrate Court in Lilongwe on June 5, where he was formally charged with neglect of official duty contrary to Section 121 of the Penal Code.
According to the ACB, the alleged offence occurred in January 2023, when Maseko—then responsible for processing employment permits—approved a Temporary Employment Permit for a foreign applicant but failed to ensure payment of the required issuance fee.
The court granted Maseko bail with strict conditions. He must pay a cash bond of MK500,000, provide two sureties each bonded at MK1,000,000 (non-cash), and report to the Anti-Corruption Bureau every fortnight.
In a statement signed by Senior Public Relations Officer Jacqueline Ngongonda, the ACB reaffirmed its commitment to holding public officers accountable for abuse of power. “The ACB remains committed to holding public officers accountable for abuse of power and safeguarding public trust in the administration of public resources and services,” the statement read.
Maseko is expected to appear in court again on a later date as investigations continue.
The arrest is the latest in a series of ACB actions targeting permit-issuing authorities, following longstanding concerns over irregular documentation of foreign workers in the country.
