Police arrest 16 for murder, arson

Police in Ntcheu have arrested 16 people in connection with the murder of a Burundian businessperson Andrew Bosco and the burning of his property worth millions of kwacha two weeks ago.

The 16 suspected the deceased of buying human bones and of being involved in the death of a five-year-old girl who went missing and was found dead at Kambilonjo Trading Centre in the district, witnesses said.

Ntcheu Police Station spokesperson Hastings Chigalu said the suspects were arrested at the weekend and that two of them have been charged with murder.

“The suspects appeared in court on Monday. Two of them are answering murder charges while the rest are being accused of arson, breaking into a building and theft,” he said.

Chigalu identified the murder suspects as Jeremiah Tchautcha, 35, of Wanje Village and Farah Meja, 20, of Madana Village, both from Traditional Authority (T/A) Mpando in the district.

The suspects have been committed to Ntcheu Prison on remand pending full trial, except four women who have since been granted court  bail upon production of two sureties, each worth K20 000, according to police.