Police in Nkhata Bay District are keeping in custody a 37 year old man for allegedly acting as a police officer in front of Chilembwe ship passengers on the way from Likoma to Nkhata Bay on Tuesday morning.

According to reports, the suspect Iyazenga Nyirenda who hails from Luzuzu Village T/A Mthwalo in Mzimba District was sailing by Chilembwe ship from Likoma.

The ship carried various passengers to Nkhata Bay jetty.

In course of the journey, the suspect started telling nearby seaters that he is a police officer currently working with CID branch at Mzuzu Police Station.

He even showed up himself to the passengers whilst behaving as a police officer.

As the ship reached Nkhata Bay jetty, one of the passengers who wanted to confirm about what the suspect was saying, secretly tipped Nkhata Bay police.

Surprisingly, soon as officers entered the ship, the suspect jumped with joy talking to one of the officers as if they once worked together some years ago.

He was taken aside to be asked more about his work experience.

Nyirenda kept on saying that he works with Mzuzu CID branch.

He managed to mention the Station CID officer. However upon asking him about the rank of his boss he contradicted himself saying that he is the DHO.

This made the officers to arrest the suspect who upon searching, was found with a handcuff and its key.

He is currently in police custody answering the charge of personating a public officer which contravenes section 99(a,b and c) of the Penal Code.

He will however be further investigated on the other property he was found with.