Malawi police arrest Zambian national for robbing Airtel agent  

Police in Balaka are keeping in custody a Zambian national suspected to have stolen money amounting to K300,000.00 from an Airtel Money Agent in Mangochi district.

The law enforcers identified the suspect as Derrick Thole aged 32 and was arrested on Friday.

According to In-charge of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at Balaka Police Station Assistant Superintendent Maxwell Divala, the suspect went to an Airtel Money agent at Mangochi pretending to send money to two people.

“He then went to his motor vehicle registration number BAB 7685 where he took a bunch of money and ordered the agent to send K300, 000.00 Before giving the agent his money, the suspect pretended to have received a call from his mobile phone and he rushed to his vehicle as if he wanted to take something and drove off leaving the agent with his loaf of bread.

“The suspect immediately rushed to the agent where the money was sent and withdrew the cash and left the district.”

After this, the Agent reported the matter to Police who immediately alerted all the Police formations and the suspect was arrested by Traffic Police Officers who were doing traffic checks at Chingeni Road Block.

According to Divala, the suspect is also suspected to have committed similar offence in other districts apart from Mangochi.

Meanwhile, the suspect is in custody and will be sent to Mangochi Police where he will appear before court to answer the case of theft by trick.

Derrick Thole comes from Chalungwa village, in the area of Zamani in Zambia.