Three People arrested for stealing Mutharika’s portrait

The police in Kasungu have arrested three suspected criminals who, during the night of August 29 committed a series of breakings.

The three suspects are identified as Gift Phiri, 28, Reuben Robert, 25 and Steven Banda, 35.

According to Kasungu Police Deputy Public Relations Officer, Harry Namwaza, the three during broke into Chisemphere Post Office where they stole a portrait of the President of the Republic of Malawi, President Peter Mutharika, a jacket of the post master and calendars.

“During the same night, the three suspects broke into the library of Kanjaluni Community Day Secondary School where they got away with a laptop before breaking into the headmaster’s office of Amazing Grace Private Secondary School, where they stole an HP printer,” said Namwaza.

He said the three were arrested in the early morning hours of August 30, 2018 after police intensified patrols and checks as one way of crime prevention and management.

They were arrested at Lisasadzi after police mounted a snap roadblock.

“The three were in a minibus heading the direction of Lilongwe from Kasungu. As officers searched one of the mini buses, they got suspicious after discovering that one of the passengers had a portrait of the country’s President, Professor Mutharika.

“After thorough search, they found breaking equipment in the bag of another suspect and after some immediate enquiries, it’s when the three were arrested,” said the police PRO.

Meanwhile, police have intensified enquiries to find out if the three might have committed similar offences elsewhere.

They will appear before court when police are finished with the enquiries.

Gift Phiri and Reuben Robert hail from Chakhala Village, Traditional Authority Mponela in Dowa while Steven Banda comes from Chapuma Village, Traditional Authority Chakhaza in the same district.