Police in Mangochi District have arrested a 43-year-old cashier based at Kawinga Admarc Depot on suspicion that he stole a sum of K9.8 million after selling 32,900kgs of maize.
The suspect has been identified as Maganizo Chitseko from Mpinda Village, Traditional Authority Mwambo in Zomba.
According to Mangochi Police Station Public Relations Officer Sub-Inspector Amina Tepani Daudi, on the afternoon of December 15, 2022 the suspect was brought to the police while unconscious claiming that he was robbed of the said amount of money by unknown criminals while he was passing Tsanya Forest on a motorcycle on his way to Mangochi Main Admarc to deliver the cash.
“Chitseko who had minor bruises on the stomach, thighs and arms believed to be a razor blade cuts was referred to Mangochi District Hospital for treatment,”
“Surprisingly he was awoken by an injection when the nurse was placing a drip on his hand and was later treated as an outpatient after it was discovered that he faked the fainting,” Daudi said.
Mangochi Police detectives contacted the manager at Mangochi District Admarc, Ferestus Marko who revealed that she was not aware that the suspect was coming with the cash. She also told the police that Admarc cashiers from units are not allowed to carry huge sums of cash on their own but they request for official motor vehicle and two guards for escort.
Daudi said, the detectives also visited the scene of the incident where no marks of violence were discovered and observed that the suspect staged the whole scenario after misplacing the cash.
Admarc conducted an audit at the said depot where it was discovered that indeed the suspect sold the indicated quantity of maize which was finished on December 7, 2022 but decided to keep the cash sales for the reasons best known to himself.
Meanwhile Chitseko has been charged with theft by public servant which contravenes section 283 of the Penal Code and will appear before court soon.
