Four QECH workers nabbed over washing machine
Police in Blantyre have arrested four Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QUECH) employees on suspecion that they stole a washing machine belonging to the public health facility.
The said machine disappeared two weeks ago after an officer from the maintenance section informed his colleagues that the machine was faulty and needed to be fixed.
The XTQ-30H washing machine is valued at $8 500 (about K6.5 million).
Blantyre Police deputy spokesperson Andrew Mayawo confirmed arresting four employees on Thursday and Friday last week in connection to the missing machine.
He identified the four as Gerald Maunde, 43, Kadwala Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Ganya in Ntcheu, Phillip Malitino, 45 from Josam Village, T/A Somba in Blantyre, Yohane Kankhuni, 46, Zungu Village, T/A Bvumbwe in Thyolo and 52 years old Francis Gwiranani of Chikuse Village, T/A Mpama in Chiradzulu.
“The suspects have all been charged with the offence of theft by public servant contrary to section 283 of the penal code and they are currently on remand at Chichiri Prison awaiting court appearance,” he said.
Gwiranani works as senior maintenance supervisor, Malitino is an electrician while Kankhuni Maunde are welders, according to Mayawo. They were both stationed at QECH.
Mayawo said a guard at the hospital saw the suspects taking the machine away from the premises and alerted administration. n
