Karonga man faces mob over ‘private parts’ business
Police in Malawi’s border district of Karonga Monday evening fired teargas at an angry mob that wanted to ‘finish off’ John Phiri– a renowned business magnate in the district allegedly into private body parts business.
Scores of people were seen around Karonga Magistrate Court, both in the morning and afternoon hours of Monday, hoping to witness the hearing of the case only to be told by prosecutors of the case that there wouldn’t be hearing that day.
Reports say that the businessman has men who kill people on his behalf and take out private parts.
Among the two suspects believed to be agents of Phrii, currently in police custody, is a man who is alleged to have wanted to sell his own child at a cost of K10 million.
During last Friday’s hearing, Phiri pleaded not guilty saying he isn’t into the shady business.
He told the court that if he were really into the business, he shouldn’t have called police to inform them about the two culprits.
Court clerks told a huge gathering around the court that the case couldn’t proceed without viewing the scene where the suspect who wanted to sell his own child allegedly agreed to meet with Phri, at public graveyards near Karonga CCAP Primary School.
People suspect that Phiri, who runs a number of businesses in the district, is bribing those handling the case.
Nyasa Times investigations show that the case has so far seen two unimpressive adjournments since hearing began last Friday.
Police refused to talk to Nyasa Times about the matter Monday.
But in the evening, things turned sour as people mobilised themselves and headed for Phiri’s residence – near Karonga CDSS – chanting Asowe! Asowe! Asowe!
The businessman, who had a similar case a few years back, couldn’t be seen around and was believed to be in the hands of the police.
Karonga is one of the fastest growing districts in the country mainly because of the Kayelekera Uranium Mine and the influx of businesspersons from neighbouring Tanzania.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
