Police in Dowa have arrested a 24-year-old man for allegedly kidnapping his brother (19) in a bid to offer him for sale to a businessman who runs a maize mill at Dowa Boma Trading Centre.

Dowa Police Public Relations Officer (PRO), Sub Inspector Gladson M’bumpha confirmed of the incident and identified the suspect as Titani Chikumbutso whereas the victim is Lemoni Chikumbutso, both from Nsomba Village in the area of Traditional Authority Mkukula in the district.

The incident happened on Thursday morning September 17 2020 at Dowa Boma Trading Centre.

“It is alleged that on Wednesday September, 16, 2020 the suspect approached one of the businessmen at Dowa Boma Trading Centre alleging that he had a boy whom he was selling at K250 000. The man who has just started a maize mill business told Chikumbutso that the boy would therefore work in the maize mill,’ said the PRO.

It is reported that the businessman tricked the suspect to come the following day in the morning to finalise the deal. After that, the businessman reported the matter to police.

When the agreed time clocked, police accompanied the businessman with one of the officers pretending to be a potential buy.

When the suspect brought the victim for sale, he was immediately arrested by police officers who were on ambush and brought him to police.

The suspect will appear before court soon to answer a charge of kidnapping in order to murder.