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Police officer, others in for alleged break-in, gun theft

Police in Zomba have arrested a police officer and two civilians for allegedly breaking into Chinseu Police Unit officer-in-charge’s house in the district and stealing a gun and other items.

Eastern Region Police Headquarters spokesperson Joseph Sauka identified the suspects as Sergeant Hastings Mpindeni, who works at the police unit, Madalitso Namate and Lawrence Lingo.

An illustration of an arrest

He said on February 5 this year, the officer-in-charge Ephraim Labana reported that unknown criminals broke into his house and went away with an official rifle and groceries while the family was away.

Sauka said: “Community members around Chinseu Trading Centre suspected Namate, 35, to be among the criminals since he was Mpindeni’s best friend.

“Namate was arrested and then released on police bail following lack of evidence. He left the area for Lilongwe where police were tipped off that he possessed a rifle.”

He said after investigation, police in Lilongwe found Namate in possession of the rifle without documents and arrested him.

Namate then implicated Mpindeni and Lingo, according to Sauka.

Police in Zomba then arrested Mpindeni and  Lingo on December 22.

Mpindeni comes from Ntcheu while Namate and  Lingo are from Traditional Authority Nkapita in Zomba. n

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