IG regrets cops’ involvement in armed robberies

Malawi Police Service (MPS) Inspector General (IG) Paul Kanyama says it is regrettable that some police officers are involved in cases of armed robbery.

Kanyama’s sentiments come at a time an officer, Constable Kondwani Guta of Chilobwe Police Unit in Blantyre, was arrested for allegedly taking part in an armed robbery at Kanjedza Township in the same city on December 13 2014.

Speaking in an interview on Monday, Kanyama said MPS management will not shield any officer involved in crime.

Said the IG: “I want to warn officers that my administration will never shield anyone found on the wrong side of the law. In fact, I would like to urge the public to report to police management any officer found misbehaving and we will take necessary action to deal with such officers.”

He said MPS has condemned in strongest terms Guta’s conduct.

Said Kanyama: “In the Malawi Police Service, nobody is above the law and our mandate is to enforce the law and not to break it or terrorise the very same people we are supposed to protect. I would like to thank the residents of Kanjedza for being courageous in assisting the police in arresting the suspect and his accomplices.”

In recent years, scores of police officers have been linked to armed robberies. Mid this year, another officer was involved in the robbery at Standard Bank Mzuzu Branch as well as in the robbery of a vehicle in Lilongwe.