Retired General Paul Valentino Phiri, former Malawi Defence Force chief is now in the hands of anti-corruption investigators over a case involving alleged illegal arms trafficking.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has arrested retired General Paul Valentino Phiri on five counts relating to abuse of office and dealing in terrorist property.
The charges arise from allegations concerning Phiri’s role in facilitating illegal arms trafficking in June and July 2025, according to the ACB.
Phiri is currently being cautioned by the bureau and is expected to be taken to court after the process.
The ACB has not disclosed the details of the alleged arms trafficking or the specific actions it says Phiri took to facilitate the dealings.
The retired general has recently appeared before the Parliamentary Ad-hoc Committee investigating the June 10, 2024 Chikangawa plane crash, where he testified about the military’s handling of the flight that killed former Vice-President Saulos Chilima and eight others.
Phiri was MDF commander at the time of the tragedy and was questioned on military command responsibilities and procedures surrounding VIP travel.
