By Yewo Munthali

Lilongwe, April 8, MANA; Lilongwe Police have arrested two men, who are suspected to be part of a five-member gang of criminals that broke into Capital Printing Press offices in Area 4 and stole K52 million on March 11, 2025.

The suspects have been identified as Welford John, 29, and Sautso Mandala, 44, according to Lilongwe Police Public Relations Officer (PRO), Hastings Chigalu.

He said on the said date at around 02:00 hours, the suspects, armed with panga knives and metal bars, invaded Capital Printing Press offices, and they tied up two security guards before breaking into the office where they dismantled a money safe, and went away with the cash.

Chigalu added that Lilongwe Police detectives learned that John arrived at his home village, Kandeu in Ntcheu, boastfully, and he was spending money carelessly.

An undercover team of detectives was later deployed to Ntcheu and they managed to locate John’s house, and apprehended him after a late night raid.

John admitted to have been directly involved in the syndicate and, according to Chigalu, John further told the law enforcers that from the robbery, he got a share of K8.5 million, and that K5.5 million was spent on the purchase of two motorcycles.

He then led police to Area 24 in Lilongwe, to a house of one of his accomplices Sautso Mandala, who is famously known as Tholo among his peers.

Chigalu said Mandala voluntarily admitted to have been involved in the robbery and he revealed to have taken a share of K13 million from the same.

Mandala further told detectives that he used part of the proceeds to finish the construction of his house in Blantyre, among others.

The police have since recovered two motorcycles, mattresses, among others, that were purchased using the proceeds of the robbery.

Meanwhile, detectives have intensified the manhunt for the three other suspects identified as Patrick Mtengula, Douglas Mulumbe and Emmanuel Katsala, who are still on the run.

Welford John comes from Pamdule Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Njolomole, while Sautso Mandala hails from Chikadya Village, T/A Ganya, both in Ntcheu District.