Police have finally arrested Pilirian Damiano, 35, who is suspected to have mobilised people to burn the hands of two girls from Mathias Village, Traditional Authority Mlolo, in Nsanje District.
In a statement, Nsanje Police Station public relations officer Agnes Zalakoma said they have arrested Damiano and she is expected to appear in court soon to answer a case of causing grievous harm which is contrary to Section 235 of the Penal Code.
She said the suspect put on fire the hands of two girls and burnt them on suspicion that they stole green maize in her garden.
The arrest follows a three-week blame game between the police and community members with the former saying Damiano had escaped, but the latter disputed that assertion, claiming “she suspect was still with them in the village”.
Nsanje Police officer-in-charge Joseph Fredrick Mutupha assured the villagers that the suspect would be arrested.
And true to his word, officers from Fatima Police Unit raided the village in the wee hours of Friday April 7, and arrested Damiano.
Mutupha said they could not arrest the suspect because she was hopping between Malawi and Mozambique, taking advantage that she lives in a border village in the district.
The two girls aged 12 and 14 are currently receiving treatment at Sankhulani Health Centre as out-patients.
Source:NPL
