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| National |
| K1m tobacco stolen at floors |
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by
Peter Makossah, 05 June 2003
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16:55:18
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Tricksters on Wednesday stole 103 bales of tobacco valued at over K1 million belonging to different farmers and a Tobacco Association of Malawi (Tama) Nissan diesel truck (which was later found dumped at a drinking joint) at the Lilongwe Auction Floors packing area, police and Tama have said.
A senior Tama official said on Thursday that unidentified thieves stole a Tama Nissan diesel truck, registration number DA 1130, was stolen at the Auction Floors parking yard with 103 bales of tobacco worth over K1 million after thieves lied to the guards that they are drivers of the vehicle.
“It is true that our vehicle carrying over 100 tobacco belonging to different farmers got stolen at the parking premises belonging to Auction Holdings Ltd. But as the issue is still under police investigations Tama is not committed to speaking on the matter. However, it is true the tobacco bales have been stolen,” said the official on condition of anonymity.
Police spokesman George Chikowi said in a later interview that 103 bales of tobacco were stolen on Wednesday at the Auction Holdings Limited parking premises at Kanengo alongside a Tama truck which was later found dumped at Mgwalangwa Restaurant and Bar at Kanengo Trading Centre with a few bales in it.
Chikowi said the two suspected thieves are still at large and that police have mounted an intensified manhunt.
Last week another 100 tobacco bales valued at K1 million were stolen from a shed belonging to Limbe Leaf Tobacco Company outside the Mzuzu Auction Floors in Luwinga Industrial area in Mzuzu.
According to Chikowi, police have since recovered 67 bales from the 100 stolen bales.
Said Chikowi: “Out of the 67 bales 59 bales have been recovered from a tobacco grading centre in the city and that eight bales were already sold on 29th May, 2003 at the Mzuzu Auction Floors at a gross price of US$869.09 (approximately K80,825.37) and the police have since issued a stop order for that payment but we will use the documents as part of evidence.”
Chikowi said the police dropped charges against most of the people that were arrested initially after they had come up with the list of the real suspects.
Said he: “We have arrested six people, whom we believe stole the bales and they are the ones that have led to the recovery of the 67 bales. We are still trying to recover the remaining bales. We have managed to recover the stolen bales due to the assistance of the members of the community-based policing”
According to Chikowi, the six are Emmanuel Kamanga, 28, from Zebedia in Chief Khosolo, Mzimba, Reymond Kayange, 28, of Ishalikira T/A Mwaulambiya in Chitipa, Julian Mwakalenga, 32, of Mwakamisa 2 village in Chief Kilipula in Karonga, Ifarn Moyo, 31, from Kanjedza Moyo in Inkosi Mtwalo in Mzimba, Malopa Nyirenda, 28, of Ziyadina village in T/A Mwamlowe in Rumphi and Martin Mhone, 32, from Chidoka Jonasi village in Inkosi Mzikubola in Mzimba.
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