Kanengo Police in Lilongwe have arrested a motorbike taxi operator and an accomplice for the offence of theft which occurred on Friday at around 13:30hrs near Area 25 junction along the Kasungu – Lilongwe M1 road.

Kanengo Police Publicist Sub Inspector Alfred Chimthere, told Malawi News Agency (Mana) reporter in an interview Wednesday that an ERF truck and a Tata pick – up registration numbers RU 3774 and MZ 9693 respectively, collided at the said spot which led to the death of one passenger.

Chimthere identified the deceased as Maliselino Chikhwaya from Mwera village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Malili in Lilongwe district, who died due to head injuries upon arrival at Dae Yang Luke Hospital while two other passengers escaped with minor injuries.

“Following the accident, well wishers converged at the scene to assist the victims whereby the suspects Francis Mbalule and Mofera Manyazi took advantage of the situation to steal,” said Chimthere.

He added that the two attempted to escape using their motorbike, with money amounting to MK270, 000 which was in a small bag inside the Tata pick – up
.
According to the PRO the traffic Police officers who were immediately available prompted chased and handcuffed the culprits.

He said the two, Mbalule and Manyazi, both 40 years old, hail from Ndawona village, T/A Nsabwe in Thyolo district, and Nsalu village, T/A Kalembo in Balaka district, respectively.

Meanwhile Police is appealing to all drivers to desist from driving recklessly in order to avoid such accidents adding that members of the public have a responsibility of assisting the road accident victims, without malice. Besides, everyone has a chance to make a follow-up on money and property recovered by Police at an accident scene.

The two suspects will soon appear before Mkukula Magistrate’s Court in Lumbadzi to answer a case of theft which is contrary to section 278 of the penal code and attracts a maximum custodial sentence of five years, according to Chimthere.