Head of the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) in Mara Holle Makungu said the Councillor vanished upon realising that investigation over allegations facing NHIF accountant Francis Mchaky was zeroing in on him.

Musoma. Anti-corruption officials in Mara Region are looking for Iringo Ward Councillor Juma Hamis over allegedly being involved in the theft of Sh3 billion belonging to the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) in the region.

Head of the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) in Mara Holle Makungu said the Councillor vanished upon realising that investigation over allegations facing NHIF accountant Francis Mchaky was zeroing in on him.  

Mr Makungu said they had so far impounded five vehicles the accountant clandestinely owned while the councillor supervised them althought he purportedly posed as the owner of the property.

The NHIF accountant, who is out on bail, has been charged with stashing away the money from the scheme and investing in his personal projects, including the seized vehicles, contrary to the Anti-Money Laundering Act no 12 of 2006.

The money was meant for paying different NHIF clients, including hospitals, health centres and dispensaries, which have been providing health services to fund’s members in the region.

The official of the anti-corruption bureau said they were establishing several people implicated in the scam, but he declined to  reveal their names for fear of interfering with the ongoing investigation. “We’ve already interviewed several people and are still interrogating others,” he said.  The PCCB boss explained that the accountant had been preparing cheaques to pay their clients in Mara Region, but he ended up withdrawing and investing it in his personal businesses.

Mr Makungu said the officer had been involved in the alleged scam for over three years. 

“He’s been investing the money in different personal businesses in the names of other people to counsel the truth,” he said.

He appealed to wananchi to assist the bureau in its ongoing investigation by volunteering tip off on any other activity or project the accountant owned.