A 51-year old Chinese national is in Police custody in the capital Lilongwe for illegal possession of a firearm and live ammunition.

Lilongwe Police spokesperson Kingsley Dandaula has confirmed of the development and identified the suspect as Ma Minqin, owner of China South Investments Shop situated in Area 36.

According to Dandaula, the suspect reported of the fire incident at his house in Area 36 at around 2:45 p.m. on Tuesday and police who accompanied the fire fighters from Lilongwe City Council uncovered some rounds of live ammunition in his car.

Dandaula said as the police were taking out some baggage, Mingin accidentally dropped one live ammunition.

“We tried to question the suspect of the whereabouts of the gun but he denied not having it and later on changed his statement saying the gun was in Zambia,” he said.

He said a further search uncovered 43 rounds of live ammunition in the suspect’s car plus cash worth a whopping K25 million stashed in a sack bag.

The suspect is in police custody and is expected to answer charges of possessing illegal fire arm contrary to section 16 (2) of the Firearms Act.