LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Malawi Police at Lingadzi Station in Lilongwe on Saturday, December 17, 2022, arrested four people including two ex-convicts for the offence of fraud.

The suspects are identified as Wane Simbeye, Peter Sungani, Aaryan Nkapu and Noel Swally.

According to Lingadzi Police Station publicist Salomy Zgambo said Simbeye is an employee of Telecom Networks Malawi (TNM), Sungani is a mobile money agent for both TNM and Airtel; Nkapu and Sally are both ex-convincts.

Zgambo disclosed that the arrest of the four follows rampant cases of simcard swap and online fraud cases reported in various stations, including Lingadzi Police Station.

“In one case lodged at the station, Mr Joab Frank Chakhaza who works as a broadcaster at Zodiak Broadcasting Service and Mr Edwin Maluwa both complained that between 21 and 24 November, 2022 their phone numbers were swaped without their consent and that fraudsters managed to transfer their money amounting to over MK3 million from their National and Standard Bank accounts, respectively.

“Following investigations, Noel and Peter were found with both sim registration and sim swap applications which were being used for their illegal activities,” said Zgambo.

She added, “Upon being interviewed they all admitted to be the ones responsible for the crimes.

“Currently, investigations are still in progress to recover the stolen money and arrest other suspects linked to the case”.

Meanwhile, police have confiscated the phones that the suspects were using to commit the offence.

Simbeye, aged 28 comes from Dakalinali village, Traditional Authority (T.A) Mbewe in Karonga, Sungani, 32, hails from Namisemba village, T.A Mwambo in Dedza and Nkapu, 23, hails from Germany village, T.A Traditional Chikowi in Zomba while Swally, 22 years originates from Nkanda village, T.A Chikowi in Zomba.