Police have arrested an employee of National Audit Department in the eastern city of Zomba, Chrissie Lipenga for stealing her husband’s money amounting to K400, 000.

Confirming the development, Eastern Region police publicist sub-inspector Thomeck Nyaude told Nyasa Times that the money was recovered from the couple’s home at Matawale Township, which was hidden under the piles of assorted items in a store-room.

Meanwhile, Nyaude says the matter is being treated as a domestic matter until the two produce a marriage certificate.

“We haven’t launched any prosecution yet. We first of all want to prove if the two are legally married. If they can’t produce the marriage certificate, we will handle the matter as a criminal offence,” he said.

The woman is said to have stolen the money from the bag of her husband Joy Nkhoma who is a businessman while he was preparing for a business trip within the country.

Nkhoma realized the money was missing after he had travelled from Zomba to Blantyre, according to Nyaude.

Upon realizing that the cash was missing, Nyaude said the husband returned to Zomba to query the wife but she denied stealing the money.

The husband reported the matter to police who went to search in the couple’s home in Matawale but to no avail.

“The police quizzed the woman about the money but she vehemently denied any knowledge,” says Nyaude adding that the wife later revealed that she stole the money after the cops told her she would be thrown in jail.

The wife has reportedly apologized to the husband with the hope that he will withdraw the case.

The couple has been in marriage for over three years. The wife has since been released on bail.