A 46-year-old Malawian national, Lazarus Kenneth Wankhama, has been re-arrested by South African authorities after months on the run. He was wanted in connection with corruption and immigration-related offenses.
According to officials, Wankhama was first arrested in September 2021 for allegedly stealing crude oil. During his arrest, he reportedly attempted to bribe the police with R50,000 in exchange for his release. Law enforcement then launched an undercover operation, resulting in his arrest and the recovery of R49,900 in trap money.
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The case was handed over to a corruption investigation unit in Durban, but it was provisionally withdrawn while further investigations continued. When the case was ready to proceed, Wankhama had disappeared, prompting a warrant for his arrest.
He was finally tracked down and apprehended on Sunday. He appeared in court the following day and his case has been postponed until Thursday for a formal bail hearing.
The KwaZulu-Natal head of the investigation unit commended the team for their dedication, saying the arrest demonstrated their firm stance against corruption and commitment to justice.