FMB robbery: Murder suspect is Malawi Police officer’s hubby

As it has been learnt that law enforcers are aiding gang of criminals in the country, one of the suspects who shot dead a police officer and injured another one as they stole about K100 million at First Merchant Bank (FMB) Livingstone Towers Branch in Blantyre is a husband to a senior female cop.

According to police sources the suspect Perekani Malunga is a notorious criminal who married a Blantyre Police Commandant Sup Blandina Chanika.

The source told Nyasa Times that Malunga was identified by CCTV footage as well as one of the police officers who was shot during the robbery but survived.

Malunga was identified on CCTV footage as he unlocked handcuffs from the shot police officers.

Sources said the two officers were apparently shot after they had recognised Malunga among the armed thugs.

He also said it is suspected that the guns and handicuffs Malunga used belongs to Malawi Police.

Malunga and his friends are reported to have shot the two officers to prevent them from identifying them. 7

The injured female cop Constable Makina was receiving treatment at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) in Blantyre.

FMB head of retail banking Ewen Hiwa said when the robbers entered the bank, staff on duty were ordered to lie down as the suspects made their way into the room where there was cash.

Malunga was also recently involved in criminal activity  that could soil the image of his wife Chanika as he used a police vehicle that was in the custody of Chanika to transport Indian Hemp from Nkhotakota.

The police vehicle carrying bags of Chamba was later involved in an accident and overturned along the way.
Malunga apparently got another lift with his bags leaving the overturned vehicle behind.

Recntly Constable Kondwani Guta of Chilobwe Police Unit in Blantyre, was arrested for allegedly taking part in an armed robbery at Kanjedza Township. He was badly beaten by the residents in their frustration with what has been going on in the whole country.

Newly appointed Inspector General (IG) Paul Kanyama is on record saying Malawi Police Service (MPS) management will not shield any officer involved in crimes.

“In the Malawi Police Service, nobody is above the law and our mandate is to enforce the law and not to break it or terrorise the very same people we are supposed to protect. I would like to thank the residents of Kanjedza for being courageous in assisting the police in arresting the suspect and his accomplices,” said Kanyama.