By Ernest Mfunya

Mangochi, August 13, Mana. Police at Koche in Mangochi district on Saturday arrested four men on allegations that they assaulted to death Isaac Mbendera, 29, of Khumunye Village, Traditional Authority (TA) M'biza in Zomba, after he was caught red-handed stealing goats.

Mangochi Police Public Relations Officer, Inspector Amina Tepani Daudi identified the four suspects as Mtenje Salanje (kraal owner), 50, Felix Maunda, 45, Shadreck Jailosi, 48, and Christopher Mkwate, 48.

According to Daudi, it is alleged that Mbendera, now deceased, and his two unidentified accomplices broke into Salanje's goat kraal within his compound on the night of July 19, 2024, at Chipoka Village around Maldeco Trading Centre.

“The owner was awoken by the bleating of the goats and shouted for help upon noticing the presence of the thieves. This prompted neighbors, including the other mentioned suspects, to mobilize themselves such that Mbendera was captured after he failed to escape with his motorcycle, while the other two fled,

“The mob assaulted Mbendera with stones, sticks, and metal objects before abandoning him. The matter was reported to Koche Police Unit, whose officers rushed to the scene and took Mbendera to Mangochi District Hospital where he was pronounced dead while receiving treatment,” Daudi said, adding that Mbendera died due internal bleeding.

She said that police initiated investigations that led to the arrest of the four suspects, adding that investigations are going on to apprehend the remaining ones.

According to Daudi, the three will answer murder charges, which contravenes Section 209 of the Penal Code, adding that the suspects will appear before court after completion of all paperwork.

Meanwhile, Police in the district is appealing to the public to avoid taking the law into their own hands saying mob justice is illegal and mostly frustrates crime investigations.

The four come from Chipoka Village, Traditional Authority Mponda in Mangochi.