By Sylvester Kumwenda

Dowa, March 14, Mana: Police in Dowa on Wednesday arrested two people at Dzaleka Refugee Camp for breaking and stealing items worth K3,650,000, which the police have since recovered.

Dowa Police Station Public Relations Officer Alice Sitima has identified the two as habitual criminal Steven Banda, 24, and Dera Levi, 30.

Sitima said on Sunday evening, 46-year-old Congolese national Ndume Makanjali reported to Dzaleka Police Unit that his house had been broken into by unknown criminals who went away with a 32-inch plasma television worth K340,000. 

“After confirming the incident at the crime scene, the police, while conducting patrols around the camp, intercepted Banda, carrying a sack-bag and, after a search, found the plasma television in question and a Techno cellphone.

“Upon interrogations, Banda admitted having committed the offense together with his accomplices whom he said used sharp objects to open a window. Further police investigations led to the arrest of his accomplice, Levi, and recovery of other items,” she said.

According to Sitima, the other recovered items include a Lifan motorcycle, a 32-inch Samsung plasma screen, two LED televisions, LG subwoofer, solar panel, and smart phones, amongst others.

Sitima has since said the two are in police custody and will appear in court soon to answer charges of burglary and theft.

Banda hails from Chinsapo Township in area of Traditional Authority (T/A) Malili in Lilongwe while Levi is from Mambala Village, T/A Mkukula in Dowa.