Cop arrested in connection with Njauju murder

Police have arrested one of their own in connection with the murder of Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) director of corporate affairs Issa Njauju in July this year.

National Police spokesperson Nicholas Gondwa confirmed on Thursday the arrest of the officer whose identity he refused to disclose for fear of jeopardising investigations.

“What I can reveal at the moment is that a police officer is indeed in police custody. We are still investigating the matter and I will not provide any names or details until the time we are satisfied with the investigation,” he said.

On Wednesday, both Gondwa and Inspector General of Police Lexten Kachama denied knowledge of the arrest of the officer despite social media reports indicating so.

However, several police sources confirmed the arrest of the officer, a sub-inspector, from the prosecution department in Lilongwe. They said the suspect had been in police custody for about a week.

Njauju was murdered in July this year by unknown assailants and his body was discovered half buried by sand miners along a river near Presidential Villas. His official vehicle, a Toyota Hilux double cabin pick-up, was found burnt to ashes.

The police officer is the second person to be arrested after another suspect was arrested for being found with the late Njauju’s cellphone. However, the suspect was later released as his lead failed to track the murderers.

ACB deputy director general Reyneck Matemba said at the time post-mortem results showed that Njauju was shot twice in the neck and chest before he was half buried near Lilongwe River.

Western donors called for a thorough probe into the murder of Njauju. They described the murder as an assault on the justice system and fight against corruption.

Njauju, 49, came from Mangochi District but was buried in Lilongwe. He was one of the five directors at the graft-busting body. n