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A British national is charged with 18 bribery charges under the UK Bribery Act.

01/06/2025

British businessman Zuneth Sattar appeared in a London court today, facing 18 bribery charges under the UK Bribery Act.

The charges stem from allegations that Sattar paid bribes to high-ranking officials in Malawi between December 2020 and September 2021 to secure lucrative government contracts.

Born in Malawi in 1981, Mr Sattar is accused of paying bribes of up to $50,000 to numerous public officials between December 2020 and September 2021 to advance his business interests in the East African country. The court heard today that Mr Sattar and companies associated with him received lucrative public contracts worth $56 million from the Malawian government to provide anti-riot gear, food ration packs, and armoured personnel carriers.

Sattar was granted conditional bail and is scheduled for a further hearing on June 26 at Southwark Crown Court. This case is seen as a significant step in the fight against grand corruption in the UK and Malawi.

The bribery case against Zuneth Sattar involves several high-ranking Malawian officials. Among those named are:

  • Saulos Klaus Chilima: Former Vice President of Malawi.
  • Prince Kapondamgaga: State House Chief of Staff.
  • George Kainja: Former Inspector General of Police.
  • Reyneck Matemba: Former Solicitor General and Director General of the Anti-Corruption Bureau.
  • Dan Kuwali: Brigadier General in the Malawi Defence Force.

These officials allegedly received bribes from Sattar to secure government contracts for his companies.

These charges are part of a broader investigation into systematic bribery aimed at obtaining or retaining business advantages.

Legal Proceedings

  • Upcoming Court Dates: Zuneth Sattar is scheduled for a further hearing on June 26 at Southwark Crown Court. This hearing will likely involve more detailed presentations of evidence and witness testimonies.
  • Legal Process: The case will proceed through several stages, including pre-trial hearings, the main trial, and potentially appeals. Each stage will involve thorough examination of evidence, cross-examinations, and legal arguments from both the prosecution and defence.

Impact of Charges

  • On Individuals: The officials involved face serious consequences, including potential imprisonment, fines, and disqualification from holding public office. Their reputations and careers are likely to be significantly affected.
  • On Malawi's Political Landscape: This case highlights issues of corruption within the government, potentially leading to increased scrutiny and reforms. It may also affect international relations and aid, as donor countries often demand transparency and accountability.

References

UK Insurer Charged with Bribery: Legal Milestone - thxnews.com = https://thxnews.com/2025/04/17/uk-insurer-charged-with-bribery-legal-milestone/

investigativeplatform-mw https://investigativeplatform-mw.org/show-story/longest-arm-of-justice-sattar-to-be-formally-char

 Bribes, Betrayal, and a $7.8m Scandal: How Malawi’s Ex-ACB Chief got ... www.investigative-malawi.org/1872/bribes-betrayal-and-a-7-8m-scandal-how-malawis-ex-acb-chief-got-entangled-with-sattar/    

 ACB evasive as Sattar faces 18 corruption charges in UK court https://mwnation.com/acb-evasive-as-sattar-faces-18-corruption-charges-in-uk-court/

 UK COURT FORMALLY CHARGES SATTAR - investigativeplatform-mw.org https://www.investigativeplatform-mw.org/show-story/uk-court-formally-charges-sattar

 Press release: NGOs urge further accountability in UK-Malawi bribery ... https://www.spotlightcorruption.org/ngos-urge-accountability-sattar-case/

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As well as owning and publishing Comsure's copyrighted works, Comsure wishes to use the copyright-protected works of others. To do so, Comsure is applying for exemptions in the UK copyright law. There are certain very specific situations where Comsure is permitted to do so without seeking permission from the owner. These exemptions are in the copyright sections of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (as amended)[www.gov.UK/government/publications/copyright-acts-and-related-laws]. Many situations allow for Comsure to apply for exemptions. These include 1] Non-commercial research and private study, 2] Criticism, review and reporting of current events, 3] the copying of works in any medium as long as the use is to illustrate a point. 4] no posting is for commercial purposes [payment]. (for a full list of exemptions, please read here www.gov.uk/guidance/exceptions-to-copyright]. Concerning the exceptions, Comsure will acknowledge the work of the source author by providing a link to the source material. Comsure claims no ownership of non-Comsure content. The non-Comsure articles posted on the Comsure website are deemed important, relevant, and newsworthy to a Comsure audience (e.g. regulated financial services and professional firms [DNFSBs]). Comsure does not wish to take any credit for the publication, and the publication can be read in full in its original form if you click the articles link that always accompanies the news item. Also, Comsure does not seek any payment for highlighting these important articles. If you want any article removed, Comsure will automatically do so on a reasonable request if you email info@comsuregroup.com.  

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As well as owning and publishing Comsure's copyrighted works, Comsure wishes to use the copyright-protected works of others. To do so, Comsure is applying for exemptions in the UK copyright law. There are certain very specific situations where Comsure is permitted to do so without seeking permission from the owner. These exemptions are in the copyright sections of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (as amended)[www.gov.UK/government/publications/copyright-acts-and-related-laws]. Many situations allow for Comsure to apply for exemptions. These include 1] Non-commercial research and private study, 2] Criticism, review and reporting of current events, 3] the copying of works in any medium as long as the use is to illustrate a point. 4] no posting is for commercial purposes [payment]. (for a full list of exemptions, please read here www.gov.uk/guidance/exceptions-to-copyright]. Concerning the exceptions, Comsure will acknowledge the work of the source author by providing a link to the source material. Comsure claims no ownership of non-Comsure content. The non-Comsure articles posted on the Comsure website are deemed important, relevant, and newsworthy to a Comsure audience (e.g. regulated financial services and professional firms [DNFSBs]). Comsure does not wish to take any credit for the publication, and the publication can be read in full in its original form if you click the articles link that always accompanies the news item. Also, Comsure does not seek any payment for highlighting these important articles. If you want any article removed, Comsure will automatically do so on a reasonable request if you email info@comsuregroup.com.