Another cop arrested over bank robbery: Malawi Police gets 25 vehicles

December 30, 2014 Hudson Mphande - Nyasa Times 102 Comments

Malawi Police have arrested another officer within their ranks Sergent Kondwani Mitepa of Lilongwe Police Station who reside in Kawale near Deeper Life Church for being suspected to have played a part in the K90 million robbery at the First Merchant Bank (FMB) Livingstone Towers Branch in Blantyre.

Police patrol
Police patrol

Nyasa Times understands that Mitepa has been arrested after the CCTV footage in the bank clearly showed his face.

Mitepa, the detective, was on half pay interdiction as he was also facing another robbery charge.

The robbers shot dead a police officer Sergeant Patrick Mvula and injured a female Constable Makina as they stole from the FMB.

Shoot-to-kill

In another development, Police in Lilongwe have shoot and killed a suspected armed robber identified as Wadi of Area 24 in a swoop that saw the arrest of two other members of a gang that targeted homes and stole household property worth millions of kwacha, mainly in Area 3 in Lilongwe.

Lilongwe Police Station spokesperson Kingsley Dandaula said the suspected robber met his fate after he defied orders and warnings to stop running away, upon being confronted by armed police officers near Ajawa Lodge in Area 36 on Saturday evening.

Police were acting on a tip-off from the public.

Two of the gang members obliged to the arrest but the deceased fled hence being shot at, he stated, adding that the deceased was rushed to Kamuzu Central Hospital where he later died from his gun wounds.

The arrested suspected armed robbers were identified Lameck Gaba Chindime, 29, from Somba Village in Traditional Authority Bibi Kulunda, in Salima District, and Patrick Phiri Swale, 36, from Makula Village in Traditional Authority Malengachanzi in Nkhotakota District.

Patrol vehicles

Meanwhile, Malawi police has been provided 25 vehicles by government to help with patrols and means to get to crime scenes in a timely.

President Peter Mutharika promised to buy the vehicles for the Malawi Police Service, as part of plan to enhance security in the country.

National Police spokesperson Rhoda Manjolo told  state broadcaster MBC that the 25 vehicles are now at Police headquarters in Lilongwe.

Manjolo said inadequate vehicles have always hindered smooth operations of the Police and the coming of the cars will ensure quick police arrival at crime scenes.

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102 replies on “Another cop arrested over bank robbery: Malawi Police gets 25 vehicles”

  3. they dont fear the guns most of themre police officers trying to ve that much even to kill anyone

  11. we need solid information about the FMB issue otherwise the media currently has been cooking stories kwambiri

  14. Dis is the time for the Malawi Police Service to review its recruitment procedures in order to thwart recruiting criminals, pple are being recruited anyhow may be becoz of relations, tribes, corruption & bribery, Regions of origin without really looking at capability and quality of someone to be a police officer.

  15. The police must have enough vehicles. Just ask BEAM and NAC to buy them these vehicles. They have enough money. Look at how NAC buys cars for organisations. Hmmmmm.

  17. It’s strange that only in malawi do we expect a financial reward for doing our jobs correctly
    …people attending workshops or policeman shooting a suspect is just them doing their job which they are paid to do right

  19. Iyeyi kanyamayo nayenso salibwino,i think there must be a reform otherwise this shit will create Malawi become a robbers state,hence no investor will be intetested to operate his/ her businesess in Malawi.There after the country will come at a stand still situation.

  20. This is welcome news to peace loving Malawians who had started living in fear as it seemed these thugs were operating with impunity. Keep it up police! Amene amaikira kumbuyo mbava sanaberedwepo, sanazione mbabva m’mene zimachitira zikakulowerani mnumba. Anatero Josephy Nkasa muimodzi mwa nyimbo zake. That is true indeed. Handle the thugs with kid gloves but you will regret when they invade you in you home.

  21. The president should send secret investigators into use of patrol vehicles, the vehicles alone without petrol can not fight crime. These cars are forever without gas/petrol and yet the president spends 1000s of litres of petrol just on convoy. Even presidents of rich countries do not have such big convoys.

  23. Komanso munthu pamalo kumakhalapo 10 years is another contributing fact, tamawsinthasinthani the corps asamajaile eh? 2years are enough basi .

  24. Very bad, police men? Amabungwe muli ziii… Nkhani zoti muthandize a malawi ndiye zimenezi not zina zopusa mumalimbana nazozo.

  26. wake up Mr.president,command the IG to clean up the police service. before cleaning ndirande or kawale otherwise there is a lapse in security which is a deliberate ploy to pull ur govt down.

  28. The entry point for entering police service should be a diploma to curb out those old school leavers who do not have s proper background of wat they have been doing after leaving msce. These could be dangerous pipo to recruit in the service. Village leaders shudu personally be approached for the records and behaviour of their pipo.

  29. Today, even the most dangerous criminals have realized that the weakest entry point for criminal activities is to go through police training. I urge government to put in place a system that will clearly scrutinize those entering police service. Village and police records are important for this purpose. The entry point should be a diploma diploma

  30. Today, even the most dangerous criminals have realized that the weakest entry point for criminal activities is to go through police training. I urge government to put in place a system that will clearly scrutinize those entering police service. Village and police records are important for this purpose. The entry point should be a diploma

  33. yes u have given the malawi police those vehicles to help them curb robberies in our country its a welcom development but also remember to provide the same vehicles to immigration so that they could be able to control the influx of illegal immigrant in our beloved country malawi.

  34. I know these cops. They r robbing the public and the government. They have hidden cash and cars. They spend money like millionaires in game and shoprite. They have houses.
    All this is due to abuse of public funds.

  35. President Peter Mutharika should quickly know that what the Police is doing is deliberate sabotage to his government and this will automatically have a very serious implication on Mutharika . He must forget about winning again in 2014 because of the sabotage by the Malawi Police officers.
    Please wake up President Peter Mutharika. This is now obvious that all the armed robberies in the country is done by the police officers.

  36. Armed robbers should be sentenced to hang as soon as possible;no bail;priotise the cases,leave the civil ones for some time later.forget the human rights commissions concerns;robbers know nothing of humanity.kill the damn bastards!MALAWI WILL BE WHAT IT USED TO BE:PACIFIC & FREE AGAIN.

  37. I interact with police of different levels because of the nature work i do and i must honestly say i have never, for a long time, come across a policeman or woman i can call trustworth (my list includes the IG). I know a number of Indians who visited the New IG with bundles of money at his farewell party in Mzuzu. One of them was paying for not being arrested after being caught red handed in a clandestine business. The Indian is still carrying on with his business. Can the IG be trusted?

  38. Police know who the criminals are but deliberately delay coz some of the robbers are their collegues. Clean the police service first then it will be very easy to catch them all.Period

  39. Pliz bwana Kanyama the Police IG promote the two police men who have shot the two robbers in Lilongwe and Blantyre incidences. These are the two brave soldiers, who are ready to lay down their lives because of us malawians

    1. Stupid ! Next time they shoot your innocent brother for being the wrong person in the wrong place , I hope that will still be your line !

  42. SHOOT TO KILL! Even in the USA the police shoot to kill willy nilly so don’t let anyone deceive you about Human Rights. And when the POLICE shoot criminals there, the matters go before Grand Juries who always rule that the Police Officer has no case to answer. SHOOT TO KILL!

  45. Let us not forget the old proverb that says “Set a thief to catch a thief”. Which simply means that policemen are thieves number one seconded by the real thieves. The other secret is the pair will always be compatible and no one can separate them.

  46. The Police know exactly who r the bad apples in their midst, unfortunately the bad apples have exploited the lack of money among their superiors and have been at the centre of providing assistance to the superiors! I have seen constables and sergeants who have more money than their bosses, they have cars and have moved to better houses which they pay K50000 and above a month! They know them but they r shielding them! The practice is rampat at Fiscal, CID, traffic and drugs departments. Most of the criminals know these cops and the shady deals they do! I read somewhere someone proposing that there must be an Independent Ethics Committee to look into this otherwise the IG will not be able to remove the rotten apples. I propose that the Ethics Committee should be headed by a retired Senior Judge or a retired senior Army officer from the rank of Brigadier and above with members from the Police, this must b an active board unlike the dormant Police Service Committee!

  49. 90% of these vehicles will be used by speed camera teams. The police are at present using patrol cars, ambulances etc for speed camera work.

    1. Congrants Mr Police officer for the job weldone. Eradicate as many criminals as you can afford. They are disturbing our freedom and peace.

  51. at last and at least today the police services have made me smile. bring back the lost security and confidence. GOD bless the raped mother Malawi.

  53. Chonena ine ndilibe eya i iyayi chonena ine ndilibe. the song goes on like that. Boma lolowa mobera eya i iyayi chonena ine ndilibe. Pali zina ukhoza kukambirana nawo a police nkuvetsa poti nawonso ndi anthu. koma kuba. Aaaaaah gwirani ntchito yanu yotamandika apolice.

  54. Thanks APM for 25 vehicles for the Police. Please also the hoapitals needs ambulances medical equipments to make thw jobs of our health personnel easier. Thanks on advance. Also if u can tell the wellwishers tp help those affectwd woth storms in LL. Thanks my one and only President

  55. Akubawa koma kumawatero.Si zoona kuti munthu wakhetsa thukuta lake kufunafuna katundu wa m’nyumba nthawi yaitali ndiye wina angobwera kudzangotenga ayi.Sharia Law yayamba kugwira ntchito tsopano.Kuteroko timabungwe tina tiyamba kumaikira kumbuyo mbava zimenezi.Ati ‘Human Rights’ eni akewo.

  56. It should not be part of the story that police have received vehicles from the president.
    I thought the vehicles were provided from public purse??
    Please be civilised and tell people the difference between a government and a political party.
    Low standards suck me !!

  58. Mbava ndinu nomwe & mbava yaikulu ili pamwamba mungatani? Mukungopha tianapiye, zopanda nzeru zimenezo

  59. What is wrong with the name kondwani,first it was Kondwani maGunners Guta and this time Kondwani mankho Mitepa detectives in youthful stage,now we are waiting for big michenis.

  61. Good Job Dont leave them please..we need peace…but dont just shoot make sure that there clear evidence.. chifukwa mupha wosalakwa….Apolicenso nda mene akumakhala akumaba eti ndimanamizila anthu wosalakwa ….thats why when we cal them pakabwera akuba apolice amabwera mochedwa …chifukwa nda nzawo

  62. I think its high time bosses at Police and Gvt investigated why so many Cops are involved in robery. This can be an effect to a certain problem.?????

  64. A credit to our President for the provision of vehicles.Bwana Kanyama has to sit down with his juniors so that they stop turning into robbers.

  65. Really happy shoot to kill is back. Make the cost of crime high and thieves will think twice about committing crime. I would say even if the suspect is not running away, just shoot them anyway, save tax payers money. Will done our men and women in Uniform. Nde tinve galu wina wa human rights akuti fweee fweee.

  69. Magalimitowo samalani mmathyola ngati za phwetekere kaondo,kukolora chimanga, kupita ku chigayo. Timakuonanitu

  71. At every stage the Police are confirming what the public have been saying for a long time : ie
    The Police harbour some of the dangerous criminals within their ranks.
    I sincerely hope “these criminals within the police will not now go on a shooting spree ,in the name preventing robberies , to eliminate their civilian accomplices who may eventually identify them !
    Every time the Police use extreme force there should be an enquiry to verify their allegations.

  72. MRS MALUNGA MAY HAV KNOWN OF KONDWANI MITEPA.MR MALUNGA MUST LEAD POLICE TO OTHER ACOMPLICES.DO NOT WAIT 4CCTV WHEN U ALREADY HAVE THESE THUGS.SHAME ON POLICE.DAYLIGHT ROBERY AT ROADBLOCKS IS EVERY DAY OCCURENCE.QUESTION:R THE POLICE JUST BORROWING LEAF FROM SITTING POLITICIANS?LOOK AT RECORD OF BAKILI,BINGU,APM,JB.WHAT A SHAME.

  76. This is the third warning. Please transfer all officer who were moved from chilobwe to other station from within periferia area of Bt. Some of them are still cordinating criminal activities. we have officer from Chilobwe at Soche. Bt. Manase etc these should be sent away

  80. A polisi kumvetsa chisoni, in fact mbava zonsezi get special assistance from ruthless, unprofessional police officers, they share the proceeds from the stolen items. Shame on you!

  81. THANKYO U GOD ALMIGHTY.ARMED ROBBERIES IN MALAWI HAV 95% CHANCE OF POLICE INVOLVMENT.MOST OF THEM LOVE MONEY.IT IS NOT ABOUT LOW SALARY ANYMORE.REPENT OR LOSE YO LIVES

  82. Surprisingly, these vehicles will be abused by ferrying azikazi a mabwana and in drinking joints… Worse enough aiding in robberies and ganja transport……

  83. Looks like this country is full of mbava, every inch of Malawi has a concentration of thieves, ready to attack homes, banks, vehicles, etc. EEEIIIIIISSSSSHHHH

  87. Malawi dziko lathu. Komano ife timadziwa kuti atambwali,opanda nzeluwa,opanda chikondi,opanda chifindowa alephela kutsogolela komano sitimayembekezela kuti zichitika mwansanga choncho,zinthu sizili bwino zikuipila-ipilabe tsiku ndi tsiku,chonse inu ma advisor tamuuzeni Muthalika style pansi udindo.

  88. You the police, plz stop brutality on robbers, next time don’t shoot and kill robbers, it’s bad, just cut off their heads please, don’t kill them please, yes, or just cut their legs and hands and hang them on a live 10,000 volts escom wire, plz police stop killing, follow this advice plz, becoz the robbers have families that they care for, Thanks for the few provided vehicles to the police, at least a 3 quarter vehicle per district according my calculations, at least half a vehicle is better than none, unfortunately almost all police vehicles are never serviced, don’t have C.O.F. in other words the police vehicles are the worst types in Malawi, mayb next time the police should try the tractors, they are strong enough to survive poor servicing! Even if U auction a police vehicle, I can’t get one…. But there are good at catching other peoples’ vehicles. These so called new vehicles will be scraps in six months, mark my words! Mr Ka meat, you mean U don’t set a budget for car servicing? Or is it an abomination to service a police vehicle?

  91. You need to simply have a good funding to service and repair existing vehicles not only police but government vehicles in general. In most government offices we see cars that I believe needs minor service or repair but the car deteriorates due to lack of attention for months and ages. as you do civil service reforms please reform government properties repairs and maintenance policy too, lots of millions wasted. Even these newly bought vehicles will go into same cycle shortly there will be no car running again

  98. The Malawi Police Service or Terrorists Service. This is one reason to prompt me demonstrate against the failed DPP Regime.

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