Police cover-up fatal armed robbery

A police officer who on survived a suicide attempt with a gun shot to the head at Chiradzulu district next to Blantyre is alleged to be the cop who provided an AK47 automatic rifle to armed robbers.

The three-armed robbers were arrested in Lilongwe last month after raiding shop and killing two people. They got away with a substantial amount of cash.

Inside sources say the leader of the gang Fraser Chikakuda acquired the gun on hire from Sgt. Eric Ndalama although the amount paid not known.

However, it is alleged the going rate for a gun from the police is 10% of the robbery proceeds.

Chikakuda is said to have been involved in several other robberies from mid 1990s in which at least 7 people have been killed and millions stolen.

In the current case, a Blantyre Police Station-based senior cop is also said to be a supplier of guns to Chikakuda among other criminals, which have been used, in violet robberies.

In 1999, following a torture session at Soche Police Station where Chikakuda was arrested with two others, he smuggled out a petition to a local rights-based organization describing how police officers using an electric iron scalded their backs

Meanwhile, police have arrested his mother and sister for failing to report a gun used at the pub and throwing it in a pit latrine, which had to be demolished and excavated in order to retrieve it as court exhibit

The police are known to be notorious for carrying out contract criminal activities. In 1983 policemen killed three cabinet ministers and a Member of Parliament but were not punished.

Between 2004 and 2007. Blantyre experienced a spate of killings and violent attacks targeting women in Ndirande Township in which an intern reporter with the UDF News Flora Mwale and her sister were attacked in their house at night.

She survived but her sister died. They were found three days later by neighbours.

Ruling DPP youth brigade similarly attacked another well-known journalist for SABC Channel Africa, Pamela Mlogeni for her critical reports but she survived.

At least two Blantyre Secondary School girls were raped and left for dead when they were abducted from their hostel and dumped in the bush.