By Rahim Abdul
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has arrested an Immigration Officer in Lilongwe over allegations of soliciting money from a passport applicant in exchange for speeding up the processing of a passport.
In a statement signed by Senior Public Relations Officer Jacqueline Ngongonda, the ACB confirmed the arrest of Lawrent Kagona following a complaint received on January 20, 2026.
According to the bureau, the complaint alleged that some officers at the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services in Lilongwe were demanding and receiving money from passport applicants to fast-track the production of their passports.
Investigations conducted by the ACB established that Kagona allegedly solicited and received K300,000 from a passport applicant to facilitate the production of her passport.
The bureau says part of the money, amounting to K150,000, was paid in cash, while the remaining K150,000 was transferred through Airtel Money.
Authorities further revealed that the passport applied for was an ordinary passport whose official processing fee is K50,000.
The ACB says the suspect’s actions are believed to have been intended to unlawfully accelerate the passport processing procedure.
The bureau has since emphasized that public officers are expected to adhere to ethical standards and avoid abusing their positions for personal gain.
ACB has also urged members of the public to report any cases where officers demand extra payments for services that have clearly stated government fees.
Kagona is expected to be interviewed under caution as part of the ongoing investigations.
Following the interview process, he will be taken to court where he will be formally charged.
The ACB says it remains committed to fighting corruption in public institutions and ensuring that government services are delivered fairly and transparently to all citizens.
