A preservation and restraining order obtained by the state has thwarted plans by businessman Leston Mulli and his conglomerate Mulli Brothers Limited from changing ownership of 36 vehicles at the Road Traffic Directorate.
Mulli Brothers Limited and its directors have lately been at the centre of numerous financial crimes that have complicated their dealings with both state and non-state stakeholders.
Through a firm known as Web Commercials, Leston Mulli together with fellow directors Joseph Khupe and Muhiyeni Mulli wrote the Road Traffic Directorate to change ownership of the vehicles. They sought to transfer ownership of the vehicles to Muhiyeni Mulli.
However, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA), Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), and Malawi Police Service (MPS) Fiscal and Fraud Department sought an application for the switch of ownership not to take place.
Lilongwe Chief Resident Magistrate issued the preservation order following the application.
According to the preservation and restraining order signed by Chief Resident Magistrate Madalitso Khoswe Chimwaza, the state is prohibiting Mulli Brothers Limited and others to change ownership of their vehicles into other names.
The argument by the state agencies is that the owners of the vehicles are believed to have benefited directly from alleged money laundering offences.
Among some high profile financial allegations against Mulli Brothers Limited are dubious loans obtained from the Reserve Bank of Malawi and unsanctioned ownership of bus depots from where he is believed to have collected billions of Kwacha over the years.