By Burnett Munthali
Lilongwe Police have apprehended a 28-year-old man, Fatsani Raphael, from Area 23, after he was caught allegedly stealing cement bags from a construction site on the M1 road at the Amina roundabout.
Police spokesperson, Hastings Chigalu, confirmed the arrest and revealed that Raphael was apprehended while attempting to load bags of cement into a vehicle. Chigalu explained that police officers, who were conducting routine patrols in the area, noticed the suspicious activity when they observed a Toyota Ractis vehicle parked in an unusual manner, seemingly broken down, but with cement bags being loaded into it.
Upon further investigation, officers approached the scene, at which point one of the suspects attempted to flee. However, the police swiftly pursued the individual and managed to apprehend him. Raphael, originally from Ntanda in Zomba, was detained for questioning. His accomplice managed to escape and remains on the run.
The incident highlights ongoing efforts by the Lilongwe Police to address criminal activities, particularly those targeting construction sites and valuable materials along busy roads. Chigalu urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to help prevent similar crimes.
Authorities continue to search for Raphael’s accomplice and have urged anyone with information about the suspect’s whereabouts to come forward.
