Cape Town — Former Malawian Justice Minister Raphael Kasambara and a senior civil servant were arrested on money-laundering charges on Monday, report the country's newspapers.

The Maravi Post said a senior official in the Cabinet and president's office, Joster Njanji, was also held following a probe into "how millions of dollars were allegedly looted in government in dubious deals."

The Nyasa Times said five police vehicles arrived at Kasambara's home at 5.30 am and towed away a car allegedly used in the shooting last September of a former government budget director, Paul Mphwiyo. Kasambara was previously arrested on charges arising from the shooting.

The Times said Kasambara at first refused to admit police to his home but was eventually arrested and taken first to police headquarters, then to a police station.

The Times also reported that Justice Minister Fahad Assani on Sunday told a radio station that there was "overwhelming" evidence implicating Kasamabara in the budget director's shooting.

The Nation newspaper reported the former minister dismissed his arrest, saying, "It's a joke of a charge."

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