Police Arrest Nine For Theft At New Mzuzu Civic Centre

Mzuzu, Malawi: Police have arrested nine people for being found in possession of metal bars suspected to have been stolen from the Civic Offices which are currently under construction behind the Grand Palace Hotel in Mzuzu City.

Following the arrest police keeping in custody Mustafa Ali 50, of Changali village, Traditional Authority Chimwala in Mangochi district and eight others for allegedly being  found with the stolen items.

According to the Mzuzu City Police Assistant Public Relations Officer, Constable Mercy Chitonde on May 29, 2023 all workers of PLEM Construction Limited knocked off from  the construction site  leaving the eight guards, now suspects who were on the night shift.

On Tuesday midnight Police received a tip from a well wisher that a motor vehicle registration number BZ 9399 was transporting metal bars which were believed to have been unlawfully obtained from the site.

Immediately a follow up was made leading to the arrest  of eight guards and Mustafa Ali who claimed that  the fifty nine metal bars  valued at over  K2, 400,000 (2.4 million) were bought by him from the guards.

The metal bars were destined for sell to the scrap metal dealers.

Meanwhile the vehicle and the metal bars have been detained while the suspects are expected to appear in court soon to answer criminal charges.