Lilongwe Police over the weekend arrested a Human Resource Assistant at the Land Resource and Conservation Department of the Ministry of Agriculture at Area 3, on suspicion he stole gadgets and panga knives worth K20.9 million.
Lilongwe Police public relations officers Inspector Hastings Chigalu the suspect, Anthony Chimpale, 48, broke into the office of the department’s Senior Human Resource Assistant, and stole 75 Samsung Galaxy tablets, 7 tonners, 600 panga knives, all valued at K20.9 million between the months of July 2023 and February this year.
He said Chimpale, 48, of Nkhwenembera Village, Traditional Authority Chiwere in Dowa District.
“The owner of the victimized office reported to police after noticing that the items were missing following an audit, despite registering no physical breaking of the office for the culprits’ entry.
“The stolen property was part of other valuable items the department is keeping for projects. A systematic investigation into the matter by the station’s detectives, located several users of the stolen tablets within Lilongwe. When detectives apprehended the users for questioning, they revealed to have bought the Samsung tablets from the suspect (Chimpale).
“After his arrest, Chimpale admitted having broken into the said office on separate occasions using keys he illegally acquired specifically for a commission of the offence,” he said
Police have so far recovered five tablets of the stolen property.
“Efforts are still underway to recover the remaining 70 gadgets and other items.
He will appear in court soon to answer a case of Breaking and Theft,” said Chigalu
