Police in Salima, central Malawi, have arrested two people, including a fellow officer, for allegedly planning to buy 50 rounds of ammunition from a Malawi Defence Force (MDF) soldier.

According to Salima police publicist sub-inspector Gift Chitowe, the two David Fungulani, aged 33 and Steven Muliya, aged 27, will answer charges of conspiracy to commit a felony.

Sub-inspector Chitowe said Fungulani, a Balaka-based police officer, sealed a deal to buy live ammunition from an MDF soldier stationed at Parachute Battalion in Salima.
He said the suspects deposited K52 thousand into the soldier’s account for 50 rounds of ammunition and agreed to meet at Salima Boma for a handover on 23 June 2015.

However, according to the police publicist things fell apart when the soldier informed the police of the deal.

The police officer was arrested on Tuesday upon arrival in the district, and is said to have mentioned two friends from Balaka as being involved in the deal.
Sub-inspector Chitowe said the police in Balaka managed to apprehend Steven Muliya, aged 27, while the other suspect escaped.

Fungulani hails from Chiwembu village, Traditional Authority Mthache in Mwanza district while Muliya hails from Mponda village Traditional Authority Msamala in Balaka district.