IT manager arrested over stolen Malawi High court computers

Police in Blantyre on Friday arrested one more Malawi High court staff Kumbukani Chiwoni, bringing the number of judiciary support staff believed to have stolen High Court computers to four.

Chiwoni, aged 29, is the IT Manager for the Malawi High Court, according to Blantyre Police.

“Chiwoni has also been arrested in connection to theft of computer items at the High court.

“He is suspected to have a hand and we will continue with investigations on the matter,” said Elizabeth Divala, Blantyre Police Spokesperson.

On Wednesday, the law enforcers arrested three support staff for allegedly removing and stealing various items from computers that were fixed and being used by High Court Judges.

The items, including CPUs, hardware mother boards, memory chips, heat sinks and hard drives, are suspected to have been stolen  when the High court premises where sealed following the protracted industrial strike judiciary support staff stage to press for salary increment.

They are claimed to have “broke into” first and second floors of the Malawi High Court building  using duplicate keys as there was no “constructive breaking”.

They were also the custodians of the keys for the court rooms and other offices at the High Court Building.

“They are suspected to have used duplicate keys to gain access to the court rooms where they stole CPUs, hard drives, memory chips, mother boards.

“The other computers were fixed in the Chambers of Judges Healy Potani, Sylvester Kalembera, Rowland Mvundala and Maclean Kamwambi,” said Divala.

Divala identified as Elliot Mahewe, aged 52, from Chiwotcha village, Traditional Authority Mkalo in Chiradzulu district, 36 year-old Weston Muyiwa of Ndawona village in Traditional Authority Nsambwe in Thyolo district and 42 yera-old Felistine Mzandiwandira from Gambatila village, Traditional Authority Chakhumbira in Ntcheu district.

They were taken to court Friday afternoon to answer breaking into a building and committing felony therein charges, according to Section 311 of the Penal Code.