Three arrested for vandalizing and stealing ESCOM property in Mzimba
Police at Jenda in Mzimba have arrested three individuals in connection to the vandalism and theft of Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) property.
The three are Manyani Fagayi Shaba, who is accused of damaging ESCOM transformers and stealing copper wire, and Joel Joseph Zikiele and Marko Banda who are suspected of receiving the stolen copper wire from Shaba.
According to Jenda Police Station Spokesperson Macfarlen Mseteka, the arrest follows investigations law enforcers instituted after receiving complaints from ESCOM officials.
“During the night of March 4, Jenda Police received a complaint that unknown criminals had vandalized an ESCOM transformer at Kavinkhama. The same night, officers started erecting ad hoc roadblocks, and during the following night, they intercepted a motor vehicle driven by Shaba who was found with copper wire weighing 10-kilograms, resulting into his arrest,” Mseteka said.
He added; “After questioning him, he revealed to have been behind the vandalism of several ESCOM transformers such as Champhira, Kaufipa Primary School, and Jenda. He also named his buyers, prompting Jenda Police detectives to travel to Mzuzu the same night and arrested Zikiele and Banda, who buy scrap metals at Vigwagwa market in the city.”
According to Mseteka, Shaba has been charged with vandalizing electricity installation equipment or apparatus, contrary to Section 45, Subsection 2 (d) of the Electricity Act, while Zikiele and Banda have been charged with receiving property suspected of being stolen, contrary to Section 328 Subsection 1 of the Penal Code.
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