Lilongwe Police Arrest Couple and Six Others for Defrauding Salima Sugar Company of K264 Million

By Burnett Munthali

Lilongwe, Malawi — Police in Lilongwe have arrested a couple and six others for allegedly defrauding Salima Sugar Company of K264 million by altering bank transaction details.

According to Lilongwe Police spokesperson Hastings Chigalu, 56-year-old Bangladeshi national Najulu Miah and his Malawian wife, Smeda Juma, along with their accomplices, committed the fraud in May. The suspects falsely claimed they were purchasing sugar to distribute to the underprivileged in Chikwawa district.

The group reportedly deposited K12,300 into the company’s bank account but altered the transaction receipt to show K123 million by adding extra zeros. They carried out similar fraudulent transactions with K30,750 and K110,960.

• Atupele Muluzi Engages Malawian Youth in Lilongwe Ahead of 2025 Elections
  By Suleman Chitera United Democratic Front (UDF) presidential candidate Atupele Muluzi on Thursday engaged young people in Lilongwe through a…
• African Union Urges Political Parties to Embrace Dialogue Ahead of September 16 General Elections
  By Suleman Chitera The African Union (AU) has called on political parties in Malawi to prioritize dialogue, peace, and unity…
• Joyce Banda 2025 Malawi Elections: Women’s Economic Empowerment
  By Suleman Chitera Former President and People’s Party (PP) torchbearer Joyce Banda has pledged to make women’s economic empowerment a…
• Kalindo accuses Mec Chairperson of lying to Malawians
  By Vincent Gunde Political activist Bon Kalindo, has accused Mec Chairperson Justice Annabel Mtalimanja of lying to Malawians that transmission…
• Aspiring councillor, residents unite to transform a road in Mzuzu
  By Aubrey Thom Vakhani An aspiring councillor for Katawa-Kaning’ina Ward, Alice Msowoya (independent) has said she initiated a road maintenance…

Salima Sugar Company eventually detected the fraud and reported the matter to the police. Despite attempts by the suspects to conceal their tracks by changing phone numbers, police investigations led to their capture.

Other suspects in the case include Abbas Adam (38) from Tanzania, Innocent Zinjaro (26) from Burundi, Kelvin Gellah (43), Mike Nkhono (47), Vincent Phiri (33), and Alick Rabson (42).

The accused will face charges ranging from providing false documents, theft, and conspiracy to commit a crime.

The case underscores the continued challenge of financial fraud and the vigilance required by companies to protect their resources.