Malawi army soldier nabbed: Suspected of killing a sex worker
Barely 4 days after the tragic death of a 22- year- old commercial sex worker in Mzuzu, police arrested a 40- year- old Staff Sergeant Symon Msowoya of Moyale Barracks on Friday in connection with the death of a commercial sex worker who was found lying dead in a room of Thandeka rest house at Mzuzu old town.
Mzuzu Police spokesperson Sergeant Maurice Chapola said the deceased, Brenda Chumbi of Balamu Village in the area of Traditional Authority Chakhumbira in Ntcheu district, was discovered lying dead on the eve of Mother`s Day by a watchman, who went to collect the keys for the room.
Chapola further said when police visited the scene, they saw some scratches on the neck of the deceased and blood was oozing from the nose while the head board of the only bed in the room was dismantled. This prompted the police to suspect foul plays on the matter.
The dead body was later taken to Mzuzu Central Hospital for post-mortem where it was discovered that she died of strangulation.
Meanwhile, the police have traced family members of the deceased and have since taken the remains of the victim for burial arrangements in Kawale 2 Township in Lilongwe.
According to Sergeant Chapola, the suspect was pinpointed by two witnesses during an identification parade where he was standing amongst 12 people including police officers.
He said at every attempt the two eye witnesses who were with the deceased before she was taken to the room by the accused kept on pointing a finger at Msowoya.
Police say Msowoya will appear before court soon to answer murder charge which is contrary to section 209 of the penal code and attracts a maximum sentence of life imprisonment with hard labour or death.
Symon Msowoya hails from Mziwa village in the area of Jalavikuwa in Mzimba district.
