Simama Hotel fracas: Police arrests two girls ‘who confess lying about missing girl’

Two girls are in Police custody at Lilongwe Police Station, for admitting that they were sent to Simama Hotel to lie that they were looking for their friend whom they said had gone to the hotel with a man earlier in the day in one of the hotel rooms.

Police public Relations officer for the central region Ramsey Mushani confirmed that indeed two girls are being kept at the station.

However he could not divulge more details to avoid jeopardising the ongoing investigations.

A mob on Monday, descended at Simama Hotel, after hearing that the hotel is keeping the young girl.

Police fired teargas to disperse the mob that were pelting the stones and damaging the hotel.

According to the statement from the girls, they stay in Area 24.

Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday, Simama Hotel Managing Director, Francis Simama, has condemned some media houses for fuelling the fracas by inciting the attack at the facility with sensational reporting based on unfounded and unverified information.

Simama thanked Malawi Police, hotel security and management for the support rendered to them.

“There was a bit of confusion and misinformation on the whole matter. At 2 pm two young girls made their way to the hotel exit allegedly claiming their friend had walked into hotel premises unsupervised. The security personnel was rather baffled and brought to the attention of the head security and the General Manager,” said Simama.

“We at Simama hotel have a policy of no entry of minors to the hotel premises without supervision,” said Simama.

Simama said, Malawi police were alerted and they promptly responded with six officers within 5 minutes adding that the police officers were briefed on the incident.

“They were granted permission to search the premises. Upon not finding the alleged missing girl, they proceeded to further question the girls. The girls confessed that there was no missing friend on the hotel premises.

“ To our surprise the mob outside the hotel premise had gone out of control and was desperately trying to enter the hotel premises. “

He added: “The mob has broken and damaged some glasses, of the hotel and damage was minimal. Furthermore no guest or staffs was injured.

“We will leave the case to the police to do their investigations. We would like to point out that the hotel has 56 CCTV cameras which are operational 24 hours. We are disappointed to some of the media outlets for broadcasting without any investigations or enquiries. I believe this is called sensational reporting which escalate the event last night and we also invite the media to do their thorough investigations on the matter.”