LL Petroda, BT FMB robberies suspect cornered in Mzuzu
Police in Mzuzu have arrested a man suspected to have been part of gangs that shot dead police officers to rob a Petroda (Malawi)Limited minibus in Lilongwe and FMB in Blantyre of millions of kwacha.
Northern Region Police spokesperson Maurice Chapola on Saturday identified the suspect as Thomson Kamwendo, 30, of Pilisi Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Nsamala in Balaka District.
In the Lilongwe incident two months ago, the suspect alongside other suspects are alleged to have hijacked a Petroda vehicle and went away with millions of kwacha after killing a police officer.
In the Blantyre incident on December 23 2014, the suspects invaded FMB’s Livingstone Towers branch where they stole about K100 million ($200 000), shot dead a police officer and injured another.
Three other suspects in the Petroda robbery were arrested in June and police also confiscated two guns, ammunition and vehicle number plates that were used in the robbery. Two of the suspects were arrested in Blantyre while another one, who was planning to leave for South Africa, was arrested in Dedza.
In January this year, police also arrested eight suspects in the FMB robbery. Kamwendo has been on the run and was renting a house in Chibavi Township in Mzuzu.
However, members of the public tipped police about the suspect which led to his arrest on Friday.
Said Chapola: “He is one of the suspects in the Petroda heist in Liliongwe which claimed the life of a police officer. It is believed that he is also connected to FMB robbery in Blantyre.
“We need to appreciate the good relationship that exists between police and members of public who have become vital in tip offs leading to the arrest of hardcore criminals.”
According to Chapola, the suspect was also found with 13 objects police suspect to be charms.
