Bullets fan arrested for roughing up PS Madula

A Nyasa Big Bullets fan Beleti Severe, popularly known as Billy 1 was on Monday arrested by police after roughing up Principal Secretary for Labour, Youth, Sports and Manpower Development Sam Madula at Bingu National Stadium.

Severe, who is a habitual offender, having also beaten up former Bullets and Flames coach Nsazurwimo Ramadhan at Kamuzu Stadium in 2015 before being arrested in connection with the vandalism of property and documents at Bullets office is alleged to have roughed up the PS soon before the Mighty Be Forward, Nyasa Big Bullets Luso TV Bus Ipite second leg as the PS was trying to prevent him and his colleagues from entering the VIP section without tickets.

According to eye witnesses, Severe hit Madula on the upper eye, causing the senior government official to bleed profusely.

The PS was taken to the first aid room, where he got a number of stitches before being driven off the stadium.

He did not watch the final and missed the presentation ceremony presided over by Minister of Labour, Youth, Sports and Manpower Development Henry Mussa.

Madula confirmed being roughed up by the Bullets’ fan in an interview later in the evening, saying his only crime was to query the fan and his colleagues on accessing the VIP section without tickets.

“He came with two colleagues, demanding that Bullets’ executive members and officials be allowed entry into the VIP section without producing tickets. I asked them if they allocated any tickets by Fam or Luso TV and they did not have any tickets. I told them there was no way a group of 20 people could enter the VIP without tickets and in the process be hit with an object.

“After hitting me he ran away. Police officers who were nearby went after him and arrested him and after receiving treatment I went to the police station to give a caution statement,” said Madula.

People who were around believed Severe did not know the Principal Secretary and only realised he had stirred up the hornet’s nest after landing in the hands of the law enforcers.

Police spokesperson for Lilongwe Police Station, Kingsley Dandaula confirmed the arrest of Severe, 32 from Wendewende Village TA Juma in Mulanje district.

“It is true we are keeping Severe in police custody. There is a charge of Assault Occasioning Bodily Harm on the charge sheet but our officers are still investing the case,” said Dandaula.

Bullets chairman Noel Lipipa could not be reached on his mobile for his comment but secretary of the club’s board of trustees Jim Kalua said they would wait for a report from supporters chairman Stone Mwamadi.

Reports say Severe also had a bitter argument of Sulom vice president Daud Suleman at the Bingu Stadium.