Police in Nkhata-bay on Sunday, arrested 25-year old Bright Banda on allegations that he, together with seven colleagues, who are on run), robbed the NBS Bank in the district.
Confirming the development to The Maravi Post, Nkhata-bay police spokesperson Ignatius Esau said the robbery occurred around mid-night of April 15, 2017.
According to him, the area Bank Manager Miss Gloria Chirwa, closed the bank around 6 pm, leaving two security guards on duty.
However, Banda together with his friends jumped into the fence and tied both guards with ropes, and managed to enter the banking hall where they stole a TV and other telecommunications items including a UPS gadget.
“They also tampered with an ATM back door, then the door for the strong room, and three desk-top computers; but no hard cash was stolen,” Esau said.
According to the police spokesperson, the value of the stolen and damaged items yet to be established.
He however, disclosed that the police managed to recover the damaged Uninterrupted Power System (UPS) and also find the weapons that the robbers used. These included a crowbar, two hammers, two hacksaws with eleven hacksaw blades, six spanners, a torch and an iron cutter.
Banda is expected to appear before the court once investigations are over. He is expected to answer charges of breaking into a building and committing a felony therein, an offence that contravenes section 311(1)of the country’s penal code.
The suspect hails from Chileka village in the area of Traditional Authority ( TA ) Kalolo in Lilongwe district.