Beware of fake Malawi Kwacha in Mzimba – Police
Mzimba police has asked the general public in the district to take extra caution in carrying out business transaction following the proliferation of fake currency in the market.
The caution was sounded Thursday by Assistant Commissioner of Police, Louis Chigadula during a press conference held at Mzimba Police Station.
The press conference was organized to inform the public, through the media, about police security alertness during this year’s Christmas and New Year festive season.
Chgadula said Mzimba District has been suddenly flooded with hooping bogus notes totaling to K6 million, only in denomination of two hundred kwacha bank notes.
“So far, we have successfully recovered K4.7 million while K1.3 million is still enjoying circulation.
The Commissioner added that police have also arrested four people who were in custody of fake currency, whose identities he declined to divulge since investigation was still in full throttle.
According to Chigadula, the fake bank notes are easy to identify because they are lighter and have same serial numbers.
The fake bank notes which police believe have come from Zambia and Tanzania, according to statements from arrested suspects, bear the following serial numbers: AD0348554,ad0348558 and AB68868224.
Police arrested the four suspects at Jenda and Mbalachanda Rural Growth Centres, in Mzimba,working on tips from bottle store attendants who developed jitters down spines due to suspects’ lavish buying of beers.
Meanwhile, Chigadula, who is also station officer (SO) has asked shop owners to carefully examine the two hundred kwacha bank notes, especially from customers who suspiciously buy goods is bulks and at a goal.
Chigadula then emphasized on the need for every citizen of Mzimba to report to police anyone found in custody of currency suspected to be fake or forged as a way of to assisting the security institution in fighting the crime.
“It is the responsibility of every patriotic citizen to guard against illegal use of because allowing its circulation will negatively affect the value of genuine Malawi Kwacha,” pleaded Chigadula.
Mzimba Police Publicist, Peter Botha said when investigations have been finalized, the suspects will be paraded before the court of Law to answer charges of possession of fake or forged currency, which puts them to the wrong side of Section 356 of the Penal Code of Malawi.
“They can also be charged with use of materials resembling bank notes, which violates Section 23, (2) b of the Penal Code of Malawi,” said Botha.
Chigadula then made a strong assurance that police will provide enough security to ensure that people in Mzimba cerebrate a crime free Christmas and New Year festive season.
“We are set to provide enough and tight security during Christmas and New Year cerebrations. We are parading both police officers on foot and car, day and night, so that no single crime occurs,” challenged Chigadula.
Meanwhile, it has become a common sight for people to see a new police car moving up and down, which testifies Chigadula, assertions.
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