Police arrest man over K8m theft
A sweet-talking and cheque book-brandishing man, who went on a suspected stealing spree and convinced up to three businesspersons and companies to give him goods worth over K8 million ($14 679), was recently arrested by police in Lilongwe.
Brian Thomson, 47, who lives in Area 49 in Lilongwe, allegedly duped the business owners by issuing them cheques which bounced long after he had disappeared.
Lilongwe Police Station spokesperson Kingsley Dandaula said last month, Thomson convinced Nkhotakota businessperson AbasiSinani from Mtanga Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Malengachanzi in Nkhotakota, to supply him 165 bags of rice, each weighing 50 kilogrammes. The consignment was worth K3.6 million ($6 606).
It is also alleged that on October 10, the same suspect stole assorted liquor from Alice Saidi, from Ngononda Village,T/A Kamenyagwaza in Dedza District. She was allegedly tricked at Golden Peacock Shopping Mall where Thomson presented a forged cheque and went away with liquor valued at K873 000 ($1 602).
In the third incident, Thomson allegedly tricked Sun Seed Oil Limited’s sales and marketing manager KamramAkram and reportedly stole 335 cartons of cooking oil valued at K3 685 000 ($6 761).
Dandaula said Thomson finally ran out of ‘luck’ last Wednesday while attempting to obtain medical supplies by issuing one of his cheques at the Partners of Hope Hospital in Area 36.
Dandaula appealed to the public to avoid releasing goods to people before their cheques are scrutinised and verified by banks.
