Police in Lilongwe are keeping in custody a 34 year-old man for being found with a pistol.

Confirming the incident to Malawi News Agency (Mana), Lilongwe Police Station Public Relations Officer Inspector, Kingsley Dandaula identified the man as Yusuf Matiyano from Ngoma village in the area of Traditional Authority Kasumbu in Dedza district.

He said the Police were acting on a tip from members of the general public that Matiyano, an Area 24 resident, was in possession of an unknown firearm.

He said Matiyano has been arrested pending further investigations on the matter. According to Dandaula the suspect was travelling with the gun in a bag in company of unidentified person who fled upon seeing the police.

“It was on Wednesday at around 11:30 in the morning when the Police followed the issue and apprehended the suspect at Bunda turn-off where he was found with a black pistol. We are yet to find out the pistol’s legality and other issues regarding the gun,” said Dandaula.

He said if the pistol is illegal, the suspect will answer charges of being found with an offensive weapon contrary to Section 16 sub Section 2 of Firearms Act.Mana