Ginimbi’s Friend, Limumba Karim Who Died In Accident Was Wanted In Malawi For US$32m ‘Cashgate’ Heist

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When Genius ‘Ginimbi’ Kadungure’s car crashed and burst into flames, one of the victims has been identified as a fugitive from Malawi, Limumba Karim who was wanted in Malawi over a US$32 million fraud which has since been termed cashgate.

Ginimbi and his three associates died in the early hours of Sunday when his high-end luxury car a Rolls Royce Wraith went off the road after being involved in a head-on collision with a Honda Fit. The Rolls Royce Wraith veered off the road and crashed into a tree before exploding and bursting into flames.

People who responded to the scene managed to pull Ginimbi out of the wreckage although he later passed on. Unfortunately, they were not able to rescue the other three occupants before the car exploded. The eyewitnesses said that they were defeated by the locked doors and the seat belts which they were unable to release.

Socialite and video vixen Michelle Amuli, popularly known as Mimi Moana also died on the spot after celebrating her 26th birthday the night before. The other two victims have been identified as Elisha from Mozambique and Malawi cashgate fugitive Limumba Karim.

The cashgate scandal has been described as one of the biggest financial scandals in Malawi’s history which took place in 2013. The Malawian state is alleged to have been defrauded of US$32 million, almost 1% of its annual GDP, in just six months, as money was siphoned out of government coffers and resulted in donors who bankroll the country’s budget by up to 40% pulling the plug on aid.

According to the Nyasa Times Karim faced money laundering charges related to the scandal involving US$2.6 million before he escaped justice and went to South Africa.

His bail was revoked in January 2017 and an arrest warrant issued after he failed to attend court prompting his lawyer Wapona Kita to renounce agency. He told the Lilongwe High Court:

I would like to discharge myself from this case as counsel for seventh accused person Mr Limumba Karim.

I can’t get hold of him. I don’t know where he is, he is out of reach and since there is no word from him I can’t continue standing here representing him without communication when I don’t know his whereabouts.

Karim is reportedly survived by three children, one in South Africa, a new-born in Mozambique and one in Malawi.

His remains are expected to be repatriated to Malawi for burial.

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