Malawi Police nab 6 tricksters: They used PS Kaphaizi letter to swindle

Malawi Police said they have arrested six people for an attempt to swindle traditional leaders in Rumphi district.

The suspects were arrested on Thursday after senior group village head Brian Mkoweka,65, of Mhango village, sub T/A Chisovya in Rumphi reported to Police that they had been to Rumphi and asked the chief to pay K45 000 after the President elevated 10 chiefs in the district

The suspects had allegedly forged a letter with no government stamp or emblem but bore Principal Secretary of Ministry of Local government Kester Kaphaizi’s name without his signature and it was full of grammatical errors.

Mzuzu police deputy spokesperson Patrick Saulosi identified the suspects as Blessings Kabuye (38) of Katutula Village, Traditional authority Mwabulambya in Chitipa, Lyton Kamanga (34) of Chivalo village/A Jalavikuwa in Mzimba, Chimwemwe Gondwe (38) from Chikulesinde village/A Chikulamayembe in Rumphi, David Gondwe (39) of Yakobe Singini village, T/A Jalavikuwa in Mzimba, Christopher Chunda (33) of Kamangila village/A Mtwalo in Mzimba and Enoch Mkandawire (21) of Manson Mwafulirwa village, T/A Jalavikuwa in Mzimba.

Saulosi said the six have since been charged with impersonating a public officer contrary to section 99 of the penal code and cheating (theft by trick) contrary to section 321 of the penal code.

Another charge of forgery will also be pressed on them.

Recently, police said they arrested another suspect who impersonated President Peter Muntharika by creating an e-mail account through which he duped peopled for about K200 million. The identity of the suspect was shielded and up to now he has not been charged.

Investigations on the matter also stalled, creating suspicion that the criminal act was an inside job at State House.