Interdicted police officer arrested for suspected theft

Police in Dedza on Monday arrested interdicted Constable Moses Chikopa, 36, and three others on suspicion that they stole K1 million (about $1 391) from a Mchinji businessperson.

Chikopa was interdicted following his arrest along with Detective Sergeant Henry Mwanza in June last year on allegations that they stole about K1.2 million from a Zambian trader, Grace Nyirongo.

He was charged with corruption and was granted bail by the Lilongwe Magistrate’s Court.

This time around he has been arrested together with Zuze Banda, 25; Alex Godfrey, 28; and Lameck Phiri, 36, on allegations that they stole K1 million from Justice Chimaliro.

Dedza Police spokesperson Edward Kabango alleged that at around 8pm last Thursday, Chikopa and the other suspects posed as Mozambicans and approached Chimaliro whom they offered for sale something they said was gold.

He said: “They successfully convinced the businessperson who offered to pay K2.5 million. He paid K1 million deposit and was to pay the balance after testing the substance.

“The same day, Chimaliro went to Lilongwe with the so-called gold for lab analysis where it was discovered that it was fake metal. He reported the matter to Mchinji Police who launched a manhunt.”

Kabango said Mchinji Police referred the matter to Dedza Police after learning that the four had travelled to Dedza, adding that they were arrested at a drinking joint.

He said the four will be referred back to Mchinji Police where they will answer charges of theft by trick.

Police officers have repeatedly been caught breaking with notable cases being in the robbery at Standard Bank Mzuzu Branch and First Merchant Bank in Blantyre.