ZAMBIA; A lawyer and a police officer have been arrested for allegedly stealing US$800,000 during a search party at a suspect’s home.

Police spokespersoon Rae Hamoonga, in a statementconfirmed of the development and named the suspects as Mutemwa Mutemwa State Counsel (SC) of Mutemwa Legal Practioners and Detective Chief Inspector Mano Kayombo of Lusaka Central Police Station.

He said the money is a property of Lloyd Chinjenge of House number 2415 Ibex Hill Lusaka.

Mr Hamoonga said the incident occurred on 19th October, 2021 in Salama Park area, Lusaka, when police received information  that Chinjenge was in possession of undisclosed amount of money on his premises believed to have been unlawfully obtained.

He said a search party of officers, among them Detective Chief Inspector Kayombo was constituted to conduct  searches on two premises belonging to Chinjenge in Salama Park and another in Ibex Hill.

Mr Hamoonga said both searches were witnessed by Mutemwa Mutemwa Junior on behalf of Chinjenge.

“Not known to the rest of the search party, whilst the search was going on at the ibex hill premise, Mano and Mutemwa SC, who was instructed by Mutemwa Jnr to assist, went to the Salama Park residence and picked up two bags suspected to have contained the sought money from one of the motor vehicles belonging to Chinjenge on his instruction for safe custody.The incident was witnessed by an officer undercover who was left to keep vigil at the said residence.

The following day, the 20th October,2021 Chinjenge reported to the police that the said lawyers stole the $800,000=00 which he had entrusted them to secure,” Mr Hamoonga said.

He said when police summoned Mutemwa Jnr and under warn and caution, he disclosed that Mutemwa SC and Mano got the money amounting to $400,000=00 and not $800,000.

Mr Hamoonga said Mutemwa  has since been arrested for theft.