–Police nab two over smuggled maize

Police nab two over smuggled maize

Chipata, March 28, 2013, ZANIS…Police in Chipata have confiscated 500 by 50 kilogram bags of maize out of the 1,500 bags believed to have been smuggled into neighboring Malawi.

Police have also arrested two people have  in connection with the smuggling of the commodity.

Eastern province police commissioner Grace ChipalIla confirmed the development to ZANIS in Chipata  this morning.

Mrs Chipalila named the two people arrested as Patience Kuliwa a deport Clerk at Jerusalem Food Reserve Agency (FRA) depot and Javan Daka a Chipata business man.  

Mrs Chipalila said police have managed to recover 500 bags while 700 are believed to have already been ferried into Malawi.   

Facts are that the dual whilst acting together allegedly attempted to smuggle bags of white maize into Malawi with intent to sell in that country.

Mrs Chipalila stated that Kuliwa an employee of FRA has been charged with theft by public servant while Daka has been charged with theft and the  two have been released on bond awaiting appearance in court soon.

Chipata district has recently experienced an increase in cases of smuggling of and maize  to neighboring countries such as Congo DR, Zimbabwe and Malawi causing mealie meal and maize shortages in the province.

And in another development Police in Katete district have arrested a man believed to be a key suspect in the gruesome killing of a 20 year old pupil of Katete day secondary school last Saturday.

Eastern Province Police Commissioner Grace Chipalila confirmed the arrest of Faindani Phiri 24, of Gudula Village of chief kawaza’s area.

The body of Naomi Daka of Mkomanimau village in Chief Kawaza’s area was found in the bush near the school playing field.

This was after the pupil had gone to school to study around 19:00 hours with two other girls, who included her younger sister.

The suspect was apprehended in Sinda district.