Woman arrested for keeping an albino child as collateral

A 34-year-old woman, Sarah Gerald, has been arrested in Mangochi district for holding a 4-year-old girl with albinism as collateral when the child’s mother, Grace Chinjala, couldn’t repay a loan of K20,000.

Mangochi Police spokesperson Amina Tepani Daudi has confirmed of the development in an interview with the press.

According to Daudi, Sarah had initially lent Grace K50,000 with a 50 percent interest rate.

Grace repaid K55,000 but still owed K20,000. On November 1, 2023, Sarah took the child as collateral after Grace couldn’t pay, and the police intervened, rescuing the child and arresting the culprit.

The suspect has been charged with conduct likely to cause a breach of peace and is awaiting court proceedings.