Police in Mangochi have arrested two Small-holder Farmers Fertilizer Revolving Fund of Malawi (SFFRFM) clerks based at Makawa depot and three middle persons commonly known as “madobadoba” on allegations of illegally soliciting money from beneficiaries of the Affordable Inputs Programme (AIP).
The arrests were made over the weekend at Makawa SFFRFM Depot in Mangochi District.
The suspects have been identified as John Kamwana (29), Yafeti Mwale (26), Eunice Moyo, (60), Idrissah Richard (52), and Hassan Mzenda (39).
Police received a tip-off from well-wishers that the suspects were soliciting money from Mkali village beneficiaries . Each beneficiary was forced to pay an extra K20,000 on top of the government-set price.
Acting on the information, a team of police officers rushed to the depot and arrested the suspects after being found in possession of K1.1 million, believed to have been fraudulently obtained from 55 beneficiaries.
Upon questioning, all five suspects admitted to committing the offence.
The suspects are currently in police custody and will appear before court to answer charges of abuse of office and fraud other than false pretence once the necessary paperwork is completed.
Meanwhile, police in the district have warned members of the public against paying any extra money beyond the officially prescribed prices under government programmes and have encouraged the public to report such malpractice to the police.
Kamwana hails from Kadyalunda Village, Traditional Authority Sawali, Balaka District, Mwale comes from Kaipa Village, Traditional Authority Msanama, Machinga District, while the three middle persons Eunice Moyo, Idrissah Richard, and Hassan Mzenda come from Mkali Village, Traditional Authority Mponda, Mangochi District.
lnspector Amina Tepani Daudi
PRO- Mangochi Police Station
Cell:0999-706-525
Email:amina.tepani@police.gov.mw
Website:www.police.gov.mw Five arrested over AIP fertilizer fraud in Mangochi