Police in Kasungu have arrested Julius Kapelemela an electrical contractor for being found in possession of electrical poles suspected to have been stolen from an ESCOM site at Liwonde.

ESCOM investigators received a tip-off from members of the public that 30 poles that were stolen at Liwonde, Machinga district, were being used to construct an electric line at Central Poultry (CP Foods) farms in Kasungu.

According to a press release by ESCOM, investigators inspected the site and identified 11 poles which were clearly marked as belonging to ESCOM and were imported from Zimbabwe. Another set of poles were also discovered at the site but had their marks removed.

“Mr Kapelemela told the investigator that he bought the ESCOM poles from an ESCOM employee who is currently on the run. ESCOM is still ascertaining the identity of those poles,” reads part of the statement.

The suspect will appear in court soon.