Residents of Nthalire in Malawi’s border district of Chitipa are accusing the law enforcers for fueling crime in the area especially because of what they described as their corrupt behavior.
According to some of the residents including the Senior Group Village Headman Chipuwe, the Officer in Charge (OC) of the Police in the area Superintendent Mwaliwa is handling court’s cases on his own.
The community said most of the suspects are being released at the police after paying something to the law enforcers despite their case having strong evidence.
“The police are not helping us here; in fact the coming in of new OC (Mwaliwa) last year has spoiled everything,” they said.
“What is happening is that the police are demanding cash from the suspects who the community brought to the police station in order to end their case,” disclosed Mwaliwa.
He said his own son who had an accident with the bicycle recently is a good example of the development as he has been charged K60, 000 to take his bike at the police.
In his response, Mwaliwa denied the accusation and also slammed the traditional leaders for being the vanguard of handling police cases.
However, reports found by this reporter shows that the police received more than K500, 000 as well as assorted items such as livestock and home theaters from 12 suspects including those with murder cases who were apprehended within the period of January to May this year only.
Maravipost has also find that the magistrate of the area Mr. Bota was also on transfer after it was found that he was not handling court cases.
It has also been established that the law enforcers are doing this because they know that the community is dull-witted with the country’s laws.
Meanwhile, the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) in the Karonga diocese has condemned the police for the development.