Dealers jailed for bribing police

The Magistrate’s Court in Mzuzu has sentenced two people to six years imprisonment with hard labour (IHL) for trying to bribe police officers to let them pass Dunduzu Roadblock with stolen government drugs worth millions of kwacha.

In 2013, the two, Chimwemwe Chibankhuni, 27, of Chikuzinga Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Chikulamayembe in Rumphi District and Simon Mwenesulu, 27, of Kasowa Village, T/A Kyungu in Karonga District tried to beat a security check by offering K80 000 ($136.14) to two police officers at the road block in Mzuzu.

However, the officers impounded the truck and arrested the two who were charged with being found in possession of medical drugs and trying to bribe police officers. The two pleaded not guilty to the charges.

When they appeared before court on Monday, senior resident magistrate Austin Banda found them guilty on a charge of bribing police officers, but discharged them on the other charge as they were wrongly charged. The drugs were stolen from government and the two were to be charged with theft.

The magistrate applauded the police officers who manned the roadblock for acting professionally by arresting the convicts.

Northern Region Police spokesperson Maurice Chapola said police officers have often been accused of engaging in malpractices, but the case in question shows that officers are committed to protecting property and lives.

“The officers acted professionally to protect lives and property and that is what we encourage our officers to do,” he said. n