They will have to be locked up for 14 years, with hard labour; that is the sentence Judge Chifundo Kachale has granted to eight Police officers and two civilians for stealing over MK 55 million in the Malawi Police Service.

The eight have been sentenced after having found guilty of creating a network of ghost workers in the Police service and then were sharing the salary money of those ghost workers amongst themselves which the treasury dished out as if to existing officers.

The two civilians, who worked for the treasury department, were sentenced for their accomplice to the crime.

However, the police officers could have easily gotten away from it. It was their lifestyles that ignited everything.

“Their lifestyle raised suspicion, the people changed cars like they were not even police officers. It was then that investigations arose and the syndicate was busted,” said Police prosecutor, Harry Mkandawire.