Police in Kasungu have arrested 5 employees of Export Traders Group after being found with 25 National Identity Cards for different people which they allegedly wanted to buy cheap inputs under the Affordable Inputs Program on their behalf.

The 5 are identified as Stella Chapo, 24, Chimwemwe Mwale, 39, Mercy Gondwe, 34, Felezina Kazota, 27 and Georgina Sambira, 27.

Police got a tip that people who were on the queue waiting for their turn to buy inputs under the AIP were not assisted yet some people who were not on the queue were continuously purchasing the inputs.

This raised suspicion amongst the people on the queue as some people were also seen buying more than two bags of fertilizer as per the requirement.

Following the tip, The Commissioner of Police for Central East Region, Happy Mkandawire, Officer In Charge for Kasungu Police Station, Deputy Commissioner of Police Esther Wandale, Deputy Commissioner of Police for Central East Region, Noel Kaira, Kasungu Police Station Officer Senior Superintendent Bright Mwase and other police officers immediately visited the place where a search on all employees inside the room was conducted.

Upon searching all employees at the place it’s when the five suspects were found with 25 National Identity Cards for different people and cash amounting K81,000.

Meanwhile, Police have instituted investigations into the matter to locate the owners of the identify cards and to establish what really transpired between the suspects and the identity cards owners.

Police have since warned that any person found to be contravening the objective the program will be arrested. Police also urge people to tip the police whenever they see or hear about any malpractice being done during the exercise to ensure that all culprits are brought to book.