Police in Mangochi have arrested 40-year-old Joseph Simeon on suspicion of vandalizing property belonging to the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) and the Water Board.
According to police records, since April 2024, the Mangochi ESCOM office had been reporting incidents of unknown criminals vandalizing their transformers.
During this period, several transformers in locations such as Namiyasi, Mosiya, Mgundaphiri, Kalonga, and Mpondasi were tampered with, resulting in the theft of cables and fuses.
Similarly, community members, especially those who had vacated and abandoned their houses due to flash floods within the township, had been complaining about break-ins. The criminals reportedly stole water board meters, rimlocks, water pipes, and sinks.
A night patrol team intercepted a bicycle taxi operator near St. Augustine 3 Primary School and the operator was carrying two sack bags.
Upon searching the bags, the police found 99 ESCOM fuses, 35mm copper core cables, five water board meters, eight taps, rimlocks, and other items.
The suspect was apprehended the same night at his house after the bicycle taxi operator revealed that he was sent by the suspect, a regular customer, to deliver the items to a minibus driver who intended to transport them to Blantyre.
Some of the stolen items have already been identified by ESCOM and Water Board officials.
Simeon will appear in court to face charges of burglary and theft after the completion of paperwork.
The suspect hails from Kabvumbwe Village, Traditional Authority Kaphuka, in Dedza.
