The Maravi Post

DOWA--Police in Dowa have arrested a 34-year-old officer on allegations that he stole K15, 000 from a 58-year-old woman, station spokesperson Richard Kaponda confirmed the incident in an interview with Malawi News Agency.

Constable Joseph Chingwandu, who operates from Chezi Police Unit which is under Dowa Police Station, allegedly went to the residence of village headwoman Mazengera in Traditional Authority (TA) Chiwere’s jurisdiction, Dowa on February 20 this year and went away with the cash.

“He introduced himself as a senior police officer based at the National Police Headquarters at Area 30 in Lilongwe and told the village headwoman that he wanted to conduct a thorough search in her house as he suspected her of selling medical drugs illegally.

“The headwoman, whose birth name is Ireen Mazengera, pleaded that she used to sell the drugs but stopped after giving [thinking] on the consequences of the malpractice,” said Kaponda.

Kaponda said that Chingwandu then demanded K20, 000 from Mazengera “to have the case buried” but the penniless Mazengera, after knocking on her neighbours’ doors, only managed to produce K15, 000 “for her freedom.”

“But as fate would have it, a man who got suspicious of the police officers’ move after undoubtedly identifying him as an officer based at Chezi Police Unit and not the National Police Headquarters, tipped the village headwoman who later reported the matter to Mvera Police Post,” said Kaponda.

The suspect is expected to appear in court to answer charges of theft which is contrary to Section 278 of the Penal Code.

Meanwhile, Police have intensified investigations on the allegations that Mazengera sells medical drugs.

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