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A-38-year-old woman is in Police custody in Blantyre for allegedly being suspected of aiding the trafficking of two girls from Zomba and keeping them in her bottle store in Ndirande Township in Blantyre to work as prostitutes.
Blantyre Police deputy Public Relations Officer Elizabeth Divala confirmed of the arrest and identified the suspect as Veronica Bulla.
The two girls, aged 12 and 13, went missing from their homes five months ago while on their way from school.
According to Divala, the suspect allegedly cheated the girls to offer them a good job and she gave them K500 each and promised them that they would have more decent lives in their places of work. Upon arrival in Blantyre, the girls were forced to work as prostitutes and bartenders.
The issue came to light on Sunday after the escape of one girl who reported the matter to Blantyre Police-leading to the arrest of the woman.
A medical test conducted at One Stop Centre at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital Monday afternoon found that one of the girls is HIV positive.
According to Divala, Bulla has been charged with three counts of Child abduction, Child trafficking and Child labour contrary to section 78 (1) (2) a, b, c and 79 (1) (2) of Childcare, Protection and Justice Act Number 22 of 2010 and section 21 (1) of Employment Act Number 6 of 2010.
Bulla hails from Mpondasi Village, Traditional authority Mponda in Mangochi.
