The Malawi Police Service (MPS) has arrested 12 more suspects in the plunder of MK6.2 billion COVID-19 funds, bringing the total to 31.

The arrests came barely a day after President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera warned of more arrests in the plunder of public money.

National Police Spokesperson James Kadadzera confirmed of the arrests in a statement released on Monday made available to faceofmalawi.

According to Kadadzera, some of those arrested include; Ellard Naming’ona and three others from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship services.

The police have also arrested Samuel Nankhuni and Deogratious Mmana from the Ministry of Information; Steve Vinkhumbo from the Department of Disability and Elderly Affairs; Beatrice Maluwa from the Ministry of Gender and Abubakar Nkhoma from Mangochi Municipal Council.

“Malawi Police Service detectives are still on the ground and more arrests will follow,” said Kadadzera.

On Sunday, Chakwera fired Minister of Labour Ken Kandodo Banda for being implicated in the plunder of the COVID-19 funds.

Chakwera also hinted that he will not shield any top official implicated in the matter.

Meanwhile Malawians have hailed Chakwera for taking a tough stand.