Police in Ntcheu have arrested Cosmas Phalula, 32, and Henderson Malunga, 28, for impersonating a police officer and giving false information respectively.

Public Relations Officer for Ntcheu Police Station, Jacob Khembo said on April 11, 2024, the duo connived, where the first suspect posed as Sergeant Phiri and his accomplice as a suspect detained at Tsangano Roadblock on allegation that he was found with property without documents.

They called Pastor Simeon, a resident of Area 25 in Lilongwe, who is also a relative to Malunga, telling him to send K45,000 so that he should be released from police detention, which the pastor did.

Their phone numbers were unreachable for some days and this prompted the pastor to report to Lilongwe Police, claiming that his relative went missing while in the hands of police.

The pastor also reported the matter to the Independent Complaints Commission (ICC).

The ICC made a follow up with Ntcheu Police on the incident and the Intelligence Unit of the police launched investigations, leading to the arrest of the two.

“The duo admitted to have connived so that they get money from their relative which could have been a problem if normally requested,” said Khembo.

The two will appear before court soon to answer charges of impersonation and giving false information respectively.

Phalula hails from James Village, Traditional Authority (TA) Makwangwala in Ntcheu while Malunga is from Singano Village, TA Kuntaja in Blantyre.