Malawi Police charges lawyer Jai Banda on FCC stolen equipment
Malawi Police in Limbe have formerly charged long time music promoter and private practising lawyer, Jai Banda for buying French Culture Centre (FCC) stolen equipment.
Jai has been charged with receiving stolen property after the law enforcers last week confiscated from him sound craft mixer and power supply cables.
Limbe Police Public Relations Officer, Chifundo Chibwezo disclosed to the local media that Banda will appear in court on the stated charge and that they have arrested main suspect in the FCC equipment theft, William Maulana.
Maulana 27 years old and hails from Mangile village, T/A Chilikumwendo, Dedza has been charged with breaking into a building and committing a felony therein.
He is said to be the one who broke into French Culture Centre and stole the music equipment before selling it to various people including Jai Banda.
Jai Banda, according to Chibwezo, told the Police in a caution statement that he bought the sound craft mixer and power supply cables at a total cost of K200, 000.
The mixer value is pegged at K5 million.
Apart from arresting Maulana and confiscating some of stolen equipment from Banda, the Police have also recovered Yamaha drum set, a microphone and bongos from 48 year-old Pastor, Kenneth Dickson of Hope for all Nations church in Ndirande.
Dickson is said to have bought the items at a total cost of K100, 000.
Banda and Dickson aside, other people implicated in the stolen equipment include Pastor, Timothy Khoviwa of Word of Faith Temple International and musician and Member of Parliament, Joseph Tembo who said to have bought two guitars.
But in an interview, Tembo cleared himself, saying he is keeping nothing stolen from FCC.
“I have two guitars, one I bought in South Africa and once used it during Oliver Mtukudzi’s show, and he even autographed it. The other one i use as acoustic guitar. I don’t keep anything stolen and I know nothing about French Culture Centre stolen equipment apart from what I read in the media,” Tembo explained.
According to Police publicist, investigations are underway to apprehend everyone who is involved in the stealing, selling and buying of the stolen equipment.
Government bought closed FCC at K300 million from French Embassy. Days after the closure of the centre, thugs ransacked the premise stealing various property including music equipment worth K20 million.
The Police commenced investigations into the stolen equipment after Nyasa Times broke the story that revealed names of people implicated in the stolen equipment.
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