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| National |
| Tricksters steal K1.2m tobacco |
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by
Peter Makossah, 21 June 2004
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11:45:21
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Police in Mzuzu on Friday arrested four suspects posing as tobacco agents and transporters to Action Floors who are alleged to have fraudulently collected over 100 bales of tobacco worth K1.2 million (over $10,0000), from eight small-scale farmers’ clubs in Rumphi.
The four suspects, Kondwani Nyirenda, 34, from Bobo Mkandawire Village in Inkosi Mtwalo’s area in Mzimba, Francis Ngoma, 36, from James Jere Village in the same area, Osward Chavinda, 26, from Tambala Village in Chief Tambala’s area in Dedza and George Nkhoma, 35, from Yauluma Village in Chief Chikulamayembe in Rumphi were arrested after the owner of the truck they hired to transport the tobacco from Rumphi to Mzuzu was tipped by his driver.
The driver of the lorry that ferried the suspected stolen tobacco whose registration number is BK 4788, Benjamin Banda confirmed the story to Nation Online.
Speaking at Mzuzu Police Station where he was giving a statement Banda said he was hired by Ngoma who paid K10,000 upfront but did not go with the others to Rumphi, saying he gave him three men whom he went with.
“When we arrived at a place called Kasenga in Rumphi we found over 100 bales and they said we should take all of them at once but I told them that the truck would only accommodate 60 bales and we loaded 61. But when we reached Mzuzu I smelt a rat in the way the three people behaved.
“They looked nervous and what made me suspect that the bales were stolen is the place where we dropped the 61 bales. Instead of taking them to the Auction Floors I was told we should drop them at Soweto in Mchengautuwa slum in Mzuzu. I then informed the owner of the vehicle about the incident and we reported the matter to police,” said Banda.
Police publicist Willie Mwaluka confirmed the arrests on Sunday, saying police have since recovered some bales which were sold to some businessmen in the city and that investigations are still underway.
Said Mwaluka: “We have recovered more bales. Investigations are still underway for we believe that a lot more people are involved.”
Mwaluka said police is appealing to farmers and all people in the country not to give out tobacco or any other property to people they do not know.
In an interview, chairperson for a 15-member Thindika Farmers’ Club Thomas Chiumia, whose club had four bales stolen, said he and some members of the club were approached by some people who told them that they were tobacco agents who transport tobacco to the Auction Floors.
“Because we did have transport to take our tobacco to the Auction Floors we thought this was an opportunity. We trusted them because other clubs were also giving them their tobacco. If it were not for the owner of the vehicle we would have lost our bales,” said a seemingly relieved Chiumia.
Another farmers’ grouping chair Frackson Kaluwa whose Zaninge club gave the tricksters eight bales said the people sounded real when they approached them.
“We have learnt a big lesson. We will no longer trust any stranger. It was going to be disaster to our club if these people had been successful in their plan because we would not have had money to pay back our debts,” said Kelvin Khonje chairperson for Tulonthowo Farmers Club.
Meanwhile, Mzuzu Police Station prosecution officer (SPO) Inspector Dickens Mwambazi took the four suspects to court on Saturday where the four pleaded not guilty to the two charges of conspiracy to commit a felony and theft.
Mwambazi told Mzuzu First Grade Magistrate Anold Phiri that he would parade 10 witnesses to testify against the four who include the eight farmers’ club chairpersons, the driver of the truck and a police officer.
The case continued yesterday [Sunday]) afternoon. The four accused persons are not represented by lawyers.
Last year tobacco worth over K1 million was also reported stolen at Mzuzu and Lilongwe Auction Floors respectively.
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