(Ecofin Agency) - In Malawi, the police has issued a warrant to arrest Joyce Banda (photo), the former President. Indeed, the former leader is allegedly involved in the “Cashgate” scandal in which a payment of $33 million was made by public authorities for goods and services which were never delivered.

“The evidence gathered raises reasonable suspicion that the former president committed offenses relating to abuse of office and money laundering,” Malawi Police spokesman James Kadadzera said in an email to Bloomberg.

The supporters of the ex-President claim for their part that she is victim of a witch-hunt. “She wasn’t involved in the scheme and the arrest warrant is a political witch-hunt by the government,” her spokesman Andekuche Chanthunya told Zodiak Broadcasting Station.

The first official arrested under the scandal, Oswald Lupeto, said Joyce Banda was the brain behind the operation, notes Bloomberg while highlighting that the affair caused international aid to Malawi to be suspended. Following her loss in 2014 against the actual President, Peter Mutharika, Joyce Banda left the country.

Aaron Akinocho