Police in Mangochi have arrested one suspect in connection with a robbery in which a businessman was robbed of K3.8 million in cash at Misi-Katema Village along the Mangochi–Monkey Bay Road.
According to Mangochi Police Public Relations Officer Amina Tepani Daudi the suspects stoled the money from Douglas Mathew, 33, who was travelling from Mangochi to Bembeke in Dedza District to buy bags of maize for resale it.
She said that upon reaching the Soko area, Mathews boarded a Blue Honda Fit, registration number MZ 11858 which was allegedly posing as a taxi and had three occupants, including the driver.
However, after driving for a few minutes the occupants allegedly activated the vehicle’s child-lock system and grabbed the victim’s laptop bag containing K3.8 million in cash, and forced him out of the vehicle.
Mathews screamed attracting the attention of nearby people. When the vehicle stopped, all three suspects reportedly fled on foot, abandoning the car at the scene.
Well-wishers alerted Mangochi Police, who swiftly responded and arrested Joseph Banda, 40, from Timbiri Village, Traditional Authority Timbiri in Nkhata-bay District.
The vehicle was also seized, while K1.8 million of the stolen money was recovered.
Investigations have revealed that the suspects allegedly hired the vehicle from Blantyre a few weeks ago before the incident for self-drive purposes, without the owner’s knowledge of their alleged criminal activities.
Banda remains in police custody and is expected to appear in court to answer a charge of robbery as investigations continue to apprehend the two remaining suspects and recover the remaining amount of K2 million.
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